The Athens Municipal Library, one of the country’s most important and historic libraries, has officially reopened its doors after being closed since 2023. As of Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the library, under the auspices of the Organization for Culture, Sports, and Youth (OPANDA), has entered a new era, offering a modernized space for residents and visitors alike.
Athens Mayor, Haris Doukas, expressed his excitement about the reopening, saying, “Today marks an important moment for our city as the Athens Municipal Library is once again alive. We have worked systematically to provide our citizens with a modern, safe, and fully accessible space. The library hosts our historical collection of 25,000 books, invaluable archives, and unique treasures. But the library is more than just a place where books are stored—it’s a vibrant, living part of our culture, open to all. With upgraded infrastructure, we aim to make it a central point for every citizen. I invite you all to visit, explore, and make it a part of your daily life.”
The President of OPANDA, Eleni Zontirou, added, “The Athens Municipal Library, with a history dating back to 1835, has played a pivotal role in spreading knowledge. The space has been radically modernized, now featuring a complete heating and cooling system, enhanced fire safety measures, and upgraded security cameras to protect its invaluable collection. The interior layout has been reconfigured for fast and efficient service to visitors, and two newly designed, bright, and welcoming reading rooms are now available.”
The library’s collection has been significantly enriched, with thousands of new titles added across various thematic categories. Approximately 25,000 books are now freely accessible to the public. The library’s online catalog, https://centralib.openabekt.gr, has been created in compliance with the guidelines of the National Documentation Center and international library standards. It’s available online, allowing users to access information about the library’s materials at any time.
Visitors may also find a small collection of books in English, catering to both local and international readers.
Two bright, comfortable reading rooms are now available for public use, with free Wi-Fi and access to the electronic catalog (OPAC). The Athens Municipal Library also operates as a lending library. To become a member, visitors must provide a valid ID and a document verifying their contact details (such as an address or phone number). Each member can borrow up to two books for a period of 15 days.
For those interested in accessing the library’s newspaper and magazine archives or rare documents, appointments can be scheduled via phone or email.
Info
The library’s operating hours are:
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Open the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The Athens Municipal Library is located at Domokou 2, near the Larissis Metro Station (Stathmos Larissis). For more information, you can contact them at 210-8846011 or via email at vivliothiki@opanda.gr and publibrath@yahoo.gr.
