Meetings with authors and book presentations Every year, numerous events featuring beloved authors are organized at the Municipal Library and the Children’s Libraries. Here are some of the authors we have invited who have honored us with their presence:

Petros Markaris, Argyris Chionis, Rea Galanaki, Maro Douka, Zyranna Zateli, Michalis Ganas, Achilleas Kyriakidis, Ioanna Karistianni, Katerina Angelaki-Rook, Titos Patrikios, Thanasis Lalas, Christos Chomenidis, Isidoros Zourgos, Alki Zei, Evgenios Trivizas, Eleni Dikaiou, Alexis Politis, Philippe Lechermeier, Lili Lambrelli, Yannis Makridakis, Tonia Botonaki, and more.

Reading programs for students. The Municipal Library of Chania offers primary and secondary school teachers and students the opportunity to participate in reading and creative activity programs. Students of all educational levels visit the libraries on a daily basis. The aim of the programs is to cultivate reading, inventiveness, creative imagination, humor and the joy of learning! aim to foster a love for reading, inventiveness, imagination, humor and the joy of learning.

Programs for children, parents, teachers that the Library has carried out include:
“We talk to experts on children’s issues”,
“Every month at the library… we have a theme”
“Evenings at the Library” – Storytelling and story-sharing evenings
“Reading programs”,
“I build empathy and develop my confidence”,
“Adolescence Month”,
“Girls-Boys Equal in Everything”
“Every month at the library… we have a theme”
“Participation in the European Mobility Week”,
“With my baby at the Library”,
“Theatrical play workshop”,
“Summer Reading & Creativity Campaign for children”
“I’m changing the page”
“Engraving workshop for high school students”,
“Construction and animation”,
“Chess lessons” etc.

Adult reading clubs. The two (2) adult reading clubs, which have been operating since 2009, are very popular, as their members show keen interest and eagerly await the monthly meetings.

The meetings of the two Adult Reading Clubs are held on a regular basis, once a month, at the Municipal Library’s Reading Room, where members discuss a book that they have all agreed to read.

Special events:

–World Poetry Day. Every year, the Library places special emphasis on celebrating this day. We have been honored by the presence of distinguished and select guest poets: Titos Patrikios, Katerina Angelaki-Rook, Michalis Ganas, Antonis Fostieris, Argyris Chionis, Eleni Marinaki, Leonidas Kakarglou, Tonia Botonaki and others.

– World Children’s Book Day, with distinguished children’s book authors as guests, including Alki Zei, Angeliki Varella, Eugenios Trivizas, Christos Boulotis, Sofia Mantouvalou, Sofia Zarambouka, Vangelis Iliopoulos, Maria Angelidou, Kostas Poulis, Manos Konteleon, Anna Konteleon, Lili Lambrelli and many others.

I share my hobby and what I love

The Municipal Library of Chania, in the Media Lab of its reading room, with modern equipment and infrastructure, invites you to organize creative meetings together if you have a hobby or activity that you love and want to share with others. The following individuals shared their hobbies with us:

• Nikos Chavredakis: “Love for classic cars”
• Christos Kotsatis: “Deep sky astrophotography, recording the invisible in past time.”
• Chania Mountaineering Club: “From the White Mountains to the highest peaks in the world”
• Athanasia Grammatikou-Atsalaki: “Learning about the Minoan needle”
• Ioannis Chrysanthou: “Guitar making” – Exhibition & presentation of handmade guitars.
• Nikos Kampianakis: “Photography – Photographer lens – Light”

Γνωρίζω από κοντά τις Βιβλιοθήκες της πόλης μου

Στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος «Γνωρίζω από κοντά τις Βιβλιοθήκες της πόλης μου & όχι μόνο », για τη γνωριμία, τη διεύρυνση της συνεργασίας, την ανταλλαγή απόψεων για θέματα βιβλιοθηκονομικά, συντονισμού και καλύτερης οργάνωσης με τις Βιβλιοθήκες της πόλης μας, η Δημοτική Βιβλιοθήκη Χανίων εκπροσωπούμενη από την προϊσταμένη και τους βιβλιοθηκονόμους, επισκέφτηκαν:

• Τη Βιβλιοθήκη και Κέντρο Πληροφόρησης του Πολυτεχνίου Κρήτης
• Τη Βιβλιοθήκη του Ιδρύματος Ερευνών και Μελετών “Ελευθέριος Κ. Βενιζέλος”
• Τη Δημόσια Βιβλιοθήκη Ρεθύμνου
• Τη Βιβλιοθήκη της Ιεράς Μονής Χρυσοπηγής
• Τη Βιβλιοθήκη της Ιεράς Μονής Αγίου Γεωργίου Κορυδίου Αποκορώνου

Seminars

Our municipal library organised a series of seminars for its readers – and others – in the belief that “lifelong learning is the path to a more confident, beautiful, popular, successful and fulfilling self”. The response from the public exceeded our expectations. Here are some examples:

• “From Research to Teaching,” Public Benefit Foundation for Social and Cultural Work and Future Library
• Quality of life-Environment: “Interior design and decoration” – Segos Emmanouil – Architectural Engineer
• New Technologies: Website Creation, Giannis Kourkouanakis – IT Trainer.
• Language & Communication: “Spanish for Tourism,” Velonaki Haroula – Spanish Language Trainer
• Culture and Art: “Photography,” Joseph Vatsakis, Photography Instructor
• Culture & Art: “Local History,” Katerina Anagnostaki, Local History Instructor
• Culture & Art: “Art History,” Maya Spanoudaki, Art History Instructor
• Local learning community: “Film Club,” Dr. Konstantinos Dantanakis, Film Instructor.
• “Introduction to Cubase,” Aphrodite Karantonaki, Music Technology & Acoustics Engineer
• “Botany in the Library,” Costanza Dal Cin D’agata, biologist-botanist.
• “Photography Lessons,” Petros Pattakos, Vasilis Pliatsikas, photographers, etc.

Collaboration with Organizations and Institutions In order to provide better services to the community, the Library collaborates with a wide range of organizations and institutions, including:

The National Library of Greece, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Region of Crete, Association of Philologists of Chania Prefecture, Directorate of Secondary and Primary Education of Chania, KIKPE Foundation, Eleftherios Venizelos Foundation, Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Friends of Astronomy Society of Crete, Local Health Units of Chania (TOMY), Museum of Contemporary Art of Chania – Eleourgio, Panhellenic Association of Professional Translators Graduates of the Ionian University, Lifelong Learning Center of the Municipality of Chania, Association of Parent and Guardian Unions of Chania Prefecture, Hellenic Book Association, the Society of Authors, and the Hellenic Section of IBBY – Greek Children’s Book Circle. The Library also maintains close cooperation with publishing houses such as Kastaniotis, Patakis, Polis, Melani, Fourfouri.

Exhibitions

The Municipal Library of Chania, in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chania – Eleourgeion, has inaugurated and is hosting wonderful exhibitions by artists in the foyer of the Library. These include:

• “Second Reading” by artist Alexandros Dimitriadis
• “Monitor” by Nikos Giavropoulos
• “Monographs,” an art exhibition by Andreas Voussouras and Giorgos Tserionis
• Photography exhibition “Bridging Cultures” by Katerina Kalogeraki
• “Nei Matogrosso: Handsome as a Greek – Greek Mythology inspires a Revolutionary” by artist Alkistis Michailidou
• Engraving exhibition “Tracking Erotokritos” by Grigoris Niolis.

Distinctions

Through its work and activities, the Municipal Library of Chania has achieved recognition and was selected among the ten most distinguished regional libraries in the country by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. This distinction led to the establishment of the Library’s MEDIA LAB, which was made possible through a generous donation from the Foundation.
Furthermore, the Municipal Library of Chania was ranked among the “Silver” Libraries, according to the General Library Ranking conducted by the National Library of Greece for the 2016 Summer Reading Campaign. Our Library was awarded the silver medal, placing 11th among 123 libraries nationwide.
Today, it is one of the largest and most valuable municipal lending libraries in Greece.

Today, it is one of the largest and most valuable municipal lending libraries in Greece.

On our Municipality’s Libraries of Chania are staffed by specialized personnel, namely eight librarians.