High Mýto plans to significantly modernize the city library

Vysoké Mýto – Vysoké Mýto plans to significantly modernize the municipal library, which has served visitors in its current premises for more than 30 years. It no longer meets today's needs, and the furniture and systems used have become outdated. The philosophy of the library has also changed, evolving from a simple lending library into a cultural hub where exhibitions, lectures, and concerts are held, said Mayor František Jiraský to reporters today.

The city estimates the cost of modernization at more than 50 million crowns. The city hall intends to utilize an EU grant from the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP) for most of it. If the city receives the grant, work would begin at the beginning of next year.

"At the beginning of February, we submitted an application for a grant for the reconstruction and extension of the municipal library. It has been operating on the ground floor of the M-club building on Litomyšlská street since the early 1990s when the original restaurant U Koruny and other storage areas were remodeled to meet the library's needs," Jiraský stated.

The city hall approached architect Radek Schwab from the LBNK architekti studio, who hails from the city, to propose a new solution. The result includes construction modifications and transformation of the interior, a new extension, and an atrium. Barrier-free access to the original building will be facilitated by a gentle ramp in the vestibule, and after removing partitions, all spaces will be connected. The library will expand into the economic part of the building, where a multipurpose hall will be created for lectures, training sessions, discussions, and other activities. The children’s and adults’ sections will be connected by a light courtyard extension, in the center of which will be a green atrium inspired by monastic paradises. Rainwater from a reservoir underneath will be used for lawn irrigation.

The change in the library's operation will bring open access to the stacks. The open-stock principle will be utilized, where unused books will be placed on higher shelves directly in the lending areas.