The ministry will choose a new head of the National Library

Prague - The Ministry of Culture (MK) today announced a selection process for the position of director of the National Library (NK). Candidates can apply until December 6. The selection committee will be interested in the candidates' views on the reconstruction of Klementinum and the construction of storage facilities in Hostivař. They are also required to present a development concept for the NK and its financing for the years 2011 to 2016. This was reported by the ministry spokesperson Stanislav Brunclík to ČTK.
Minister Jiří Besser (from TOP 09) sent auditors to the library to review its management. The forensic audit at the NK is being handled by the company KPMG. In addition, an internal audit is underway at the library. According to the minister, the results could be available around November 20.
The National Library is undergoing an expensive renovation of its headquarters in the baroque complex of Klementinum. Along with the construction of depositories in Hostivař, the work is expected to cost three billion crowns, and the NK hopes to have it completed by 2015.
The library's management has not yet demonstrated, according to the media, that it has a comprehensive budget prepared for the reconstruction. The director of the library, Pavel Hazuka, has also been criticized, for instance, for allegedly only sporadically communicating with the eleven-member expert team he assembled to oversee the reconstruction.
Hazuka was appointed head of the National Library two years ago by Minister Václav Jehlička (then from KDU-ČSL) without a selection process.
Architects have complained that a proper architectural competition was not announced for the reconstruction of Klementinum. Some people are also upset that the reconstruction has seemingly definitively buried hopes for the construction of a new building according to the design of architect Jan Kaplický.