The National Technical Library will open in the fall of 2009

Prague - The construction of the National Technical Library (NTK), which is expected to open in the fall of 2009, is the largest contemporary library building in Prague since 1927, when the City Library was opened. The NTK has been rising for a year at Fleming Square in Prague 6. Estimated construction costs have increased by 75 million crowns compared to plans from this June to approximately 2.1 billion. Library representatives informed journalists today about the progress of the works.
A significant library building will also be the second building of the National Library, which is to rise in Letná by the end of 2010 according to the project of architect Jan Kaplický. In this case, the costs are estimated to be around 2.5 billion crowns.
The director of the National Technical Library, Martin Svoboda, told ČTK that he believes the increased costs will be covered by the Ministry of Education. However, he believes that the unresolved relationship between the institutions that are supposed to have offices in the building is a bigger problem than finances. Originally, a public research company was to be established, but the new law regulating this type of company does not allow it. It is also possible to consider a solution where all entities participating in the library's operation would enter into contracts among themselves. The unresolved problem is likely influenced by the uncertain situation at the ministry over the past year.
The financing of the NTK construction is secured through a long-term loan with a repayment period until 2014; the library expects contributions from the partners involved in the project - the Czech Technical University expects to contribute 35 million, the University of Chemistry and Technology 15 million, the National Technical Library 127 million, and the ministry should cover the mentioned cost increase of around 75 million crowns.
With more than one million volumes, NTK will become the most comprehensive source of technical literature in the Czech Republic.
The building will house the library collections of technical universities, and part of the books will come from Klementinum, from which the National Technical Library will relocate. The city library of the sixth district of Prague will also find its place in the round-shaped building.
One of the goals of the library's construction is also to transform the National Technical Library back to higher education institutions - since 1991, this institution has been established by the Ministry of Education.
The building will have six above-ground floors designated for public areas of the library and its administrative background, and three underground floors with a parking lot and book deposit. The above-ground floors will have a central atrium extending to the roof of the building.
The library will offer nearly 1300 reading places in more than 50 classrooms and study rooms. There will be 400 personal computers with internet access available here, and the entire building will also have functional wireless connectivity.
The author of the architectural design of the library is the studio Projektil Architekti. The tender for the construction and financing of the building was won by the Sekyra Group.

Information about the National Technical Library:
- usable area of the building: 38,661 square meters
- capacity of stored volumes: 1.2 million in storage, at least 500,000 in open access
- approximately 400 personal computers with internet access
- wireless WiFi connectivity throughout the building
- number of study places (almost all with internet connections): 1224
- number of individual study rooms: 27
- number of team study rooms: 18
- four computer classrooms
- magazine reading room
- 272 relaxation spots
- lecture hall: 232 seats
- exhibition halls: 370 and 410 square meters
- café with 150 seats
- 299 parking spaces for cars; 200 spaces for bikes
- estimated number of visitors: 900,000 annually

source: National Technical Library