The new National Library in Bucharest will open its doors to the public on April 23 this year, said Elena Tirziman, general director at the National Library. The  new National Library is located on Unirii Blvd., close to Unirii Square, in a building that was started during the communist period.

The new library will provide old and new collections to readers, a room dedicated to youngsters , a buffet and a coffee shop. The library has organized a public program between April 23 and April 27. ' A perspective on culture at the Romanian National Library' will showcase the work and mission of the national library, as well as extending a bridge to other libraries,  museums, archives and cultural centers.

April 23 was chosen as grand opening day as it is the International Book and Copyrights Day and the International Day of the Librarian.

The library has seven floors above ground and two below, a 30 meter atrium, glass elevators and glass ceilings and LED lit floors. Aedificia Carpati won the contract with the Ministry of Culture in March 2009 for the completion of construction work on the building, for some EUR 70 million.

Work started on the building, originally planned as a library, during Ceausescu’s regime, but construction came to a halt after the 1989 revolution. The building then stood half finished until 2009 when Aedificia Carpati won the tender for its completion.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com