History
The Municipal Library of Chania was established in 1953 through the initiative of Nikolaos Skoulas, then Mayor of the city. Its creation was deemed essential to fill the void left by the destruction of the library of the Philological Association “Chrysostomos” during the bombings by the German occupiers.
Initially housed on the ground floor of the Town Hall on Ypsilanton Street, under the directorship of Leonidas Manolikakis, the Library officially opened its doors on March 14, 1954. However, it soon became apparent that the space was insufficient to meet its growing needs. Consequently, on June 19, 1960, it was decided to permanently relocate the Library to the first floor of the building where it is still housed today, covering an area of 800 m².
The organization and development of the Library owe much to the dedication and vision of the individuals who worked there, including its first director Leonidas Manolikakis , as well as Andreas and Marika Kotsifakis, Kostas Paterakis, Olga Lazopoulou, Michalis Grigorakis and Chrysoula Karapataki-Syntzanaki.
The year 2008 marked a significant milestone for the Library. Under the leadership of Head Librarian Vivi Choudalaki, a comprehensive effort began to..
- Renovate the Reading Room and other areas of the Library,
- Catalog and organize the collection according to library science standards, making the material accessible online via the Library’s website: www.librarychania.gr,
- Host events with authors and book presentations,
- Offer seminars,
- Establish reading clubs for children and adults,
- Launch a wide range of activities, reading promotion programs and Summer Campaigns for Reading and Creativity for children,
- Collaborate with cultural organizations, foundations and schools.
These initiatives aimed to promote reading, increase visitor numbers and loans, encourage volunteerism and enhance the Library’s role and its Children’s Departments.
The Library serves as the the Central Library of the Municipality of Chania and provides services to all residents of the Chania Regional Unit.
It includes the following branches:
Significant Collections
Over the years, the Library has incorporated several important collections, including:
The Eleftherios Venizelos Library
The personal library of the statesman Eleftherios Venizelos was donated to the Municipality of Chania by his wife Elena Venizelou in 1957. This collection is of both historical and scholarly significance.
It comprises 8.500 volumes in Greek, French, English, German, Italian, Ottoman Turkish and Russian.
Also included are 378 journal titles and issues of the Government Gazette dating back to 1833. The collection features Venizelos’ handwritten diary, photo albums and personal items. His archive is equally significant, containing numerous legal documents from his time as a lawyer and rare manuscripts that illuminate aspects of his political and personal life.
In 2009, renovation and digitization efforts began and the collection is now housed in a large, elegant, fully organized space, accessible to students, readers and researchers.
The Eleftherios Venizelos Library was officially inaugurated on Sunday, December 1 2013, in the presence of dignitaries and a large public audience.
Its operation significantly enhances the status of the Library system not only within Chania but across Greece, attracting the interest of researchers nationally and internationally.
Library of the Philological Association “Chrysostomos”. In 1970, part of the book collection that survived the 1941 bombings was donated.
Vasileios Papadakis Library. Donated in 1970, comprising 5,000 volumes; maintained as a separate section.
Antonios Malmos Library. His personal collection was donated in 1972 and integrated into the main collection.
Additional valuable contributions include collections from Bishop Agathangelos Xirouchakis, Grigorios Georgoudakis, Antonios Maris, Emmanouil Kouvaritakis, Thaleia Kalligianni, Ioannis Kantara, Konstantinos Chiotakis and Georgios & Athina Stavroulaki.
Other smaller notable donations of books that were incorporated into the Municipal Library of Chania are: by:
του Leonidas Manolikakis, Thalia Kalliyanni, Georgios & Athena Stavroulakis, Μιχάλη Γρηγοράκη, Michalis Grigorakis the 1st Gymnasium of Chania with many rare editions of books by ancient Greek authors, etc. The couple, Georgios I. Kardamakis and his wife Antigone, donated on November 14, 1962, to the Municipal Library of Chania, objects consisting of museum material, classical furniture, books, paintings, photographs, etc.
Besides its extensive print materials (books, periodicals, newspapers, archives), the Library also holds audiovisual content, photographs and maps.
Special attention is given to the Local Collection, comprising books, periodicals and newspapers, which is constantly updated with all publications related to Crete.
Cataloging is based on the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR) and classification follows the DEWEY Decimal Classification system. The Library’s automation is based on the openABEKT system.
Readers may use library computers to access the database and the internet. Wireless internet access is also available for laptop users. Online catalog searches can be conducted through the Library’s website.
Since 1954, the Library has played a vital role in the local community. Its collection is regularly enriched and includes:
- Printed material,
- Books,
- Newspapers,
- Magazines,
- Rare editions,
- Archives,
- Photographs,
- Maps,
- Posters,
- Audiovisual material.
A transformative development for the Chania Municipal Library was the creation of the Media Lab, a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, inaugurated on December 6–7, 2013. It remains active and successful to this day. The Media Lab offers:
- Collaborative meeting spaces,
- Reading and
- relaxation areas,
- Internet navigation zones,
- Music studios for recording.
This innovative space embodies a modern library concept, envisioned and realized by the Future Library initiative through the Media Labs program.
Each year, the Libraries of the Municipality of Chania organize numerous events in collaboration with cultural institutions, libraries, schools, museums, foundations and more. Activities include:
Author meet-and-greets and book presentations, Seminar, Reading clubs, Exhibitions, Reading promotion programs, Educational workshops and children’s activities, The Summer Reading and Creativity Campaign
The Library also offers reading and creative programs for students and teachers of both primary and secondary education.
Daily student visits and guided tours aim to foster a love for reading, inventiveness, imagination, humor and the joy of learning.
Since 2010, the Mobile Library Unit visits kindergartens and primary schools to lend books and supports children’s summer creative programs hosted by local organizations.
In recent years, two Adult Reading Clubs The Libraries of the Municipality of Chania are staffed by qualified personnel, including seven librarians and one drama educator.
Our Municipality's Libraries
Reading Greece: The Libraries of the Municipality of Chania as Dynamic Centers of Culture and Incubators of Knowledge and Democracy
Report on the Libraries of the Municipality of Chania for the year 2024
Tens of thousands of readers, hundreds of new members and dozens of educational reading activities in the Libraries of the Municipality of Chania for 2024. The libraries of the Municipality […]
Municipal Library of Chania
MUNICIPAL LIBRARY OF CHANIA in brief Founded in 1953, it is housed in an 800 m² space in the Town Hall building and plays an important role in the local [...]
Children’s and Teenagers’ Library in the Municipal Garden
The Children's and Teenagers' Library is located in the Municipal Garden and was inaugurated in February 1987. Children from kindergarten to high school are served by librarians Athina Gianoulaki, Litsa [...]
Children’s and Teenagers’ Library of Souda
The library opened in June 1999 and serves children aged 5-18. In addition to studying, children can also play board games, draw and attend various educational and entertainment programs at [...]