Building

The Public Central Library of Serres has been the cultural center of our District since 1952.

The Public Central Library of Serres provides information impartially and without prejudice and aims at supporting citizens in meeting the challenge of an increasingly complex and competitive world.

The Public Central Library of Serres has the power to bring about a fruitful marriage of knowledge and culture having as its major aim the introduction of the citizens to the world of information. Our activities are an essential part of Greek Culture that we all of us must preserve, support and spread throughout the world. These are our values.

 

1. Introduction

The director of the Public Central Library of Serres, Ioannis Sapountzis came up with the project of the new building following months of detailed evaluation and scrutiny. The architectural research was carried out by the Technical Company, 'O.TO.ME' and under the supervision of Professor Dimitrios Papalexopoulos (Metsovio Polytechnic University). The company 'K. Zeris – P. Antonopoulos and Partners', did the statics research while the company 'G. Diamantouros and Partners', did the electronic and engineering research. The Technical Company 'ÅÂÏÎ' of Konstantinos Zikas, based in Thessaloniki, constructed the new building.

The Public Central Library of Serres is amodel Libraryfor the rest of our country.

 

2. Building Plan

The Public Central Library of Serres consists of 5 floors and one underground space. A three level design has been developed. These three separate levels could function as a whole, although they could equally have an autonomous function.

  • Room
  • Main Library
  • Gallery

This division is also obvious from the outside construction of the building as seen from N. Nikolaou Street.

The three basic elements of the plan are the following :

  • Thepublic characterof the building
  • Functionalflexibility
  • Distinctionin the cirulation of the library staff and users

2.1 The public character of the building

The Library building has a public character, as it is an essential part of the urban-planning of Serres. The building site lies in a central and very important part of the town; it lies between two central roads, G. Papadreou Street and N. Nikolaou Street.

2.2 Functional flexibility

The expanded library is designed to provide the spatial flexibility necessary to anticipate the needs of a growing community and dynamically changing technology. The interior design of the building is such that will be available for any further changesin the future.

2.3 Distinction in the circulation of the Library staff and users

Finally an important element of the building's interior design is the division of the building in the areas used by thestaffand those used by themembers of the library. The main room for the users of the library is situated in a prominent part of the building so that it is easily recognizable. The librarians' offices are positioned in such way as to facilitate the rendering of services.

 

3. Services

 Basement In the Basement there is a parking area for the Mobile Library buses, storerooms, toilets and cloakrooms, as well as an area for electronic and mechanical equipment
Ground floor On the ground floor, there is the main entrance of the Library, a large room for reading or other activities, a foyer and a cafe
1st floor The translator's offices and a projection room, the Children's Library, along with a room where the audiovisual material is kept, and a projection room is situated on the 1st floor
2nd floor The Main Library, the Librarians' offices, bookshelves, a reading room, the issue desk and toilets is situated on the 2nd floor
3rd floor Special subject bookshelves, a kitchen, a storage room, a studying room, a room with the archives and toilets is situated on the 3rd floor
4th floor The music room and a part of the gallery is situated on the 4th floor
5th floor The gallery is situated on the 5th floor
Top floor: The endings of the stairwells and the air - conditioning installations lie on the top floor

 

4. Building Expansion Plan

The new building provides full access and new spaces to accomodate the needs of a modern programme of service.

The new Library is equipped with a central control system, theBMS(Building Management System) and it is wired with a data network, theEIA/TIA 568. The new building meets the challenges of an interconnected world head on. The building's facilities and interior design is such that the adaptation for any future technological advancements is possible

There are three steps in the application of computing facilities :

Phase A :

Library's services through electronic equipment Administrative works: use of computers for gathering information, correspondence, and archive work. Computing facilities for the users of the Library: electronic cataloguing, use of the Internet etc.

Phase B :

The multimedia systems (on the 1st floor) is also available to people in other areas of the building and accessible by the users of the Library. The reading rooms are equipped with computing services.

Phase C :

The Library's system is connected with other networks. We also aim for an electronic database for different areas of knowledge and for the region, for the production of multimedia and audiovisual material, and for the expansion of our publishing program. Electronic connection with other areas is also one of our aims.

Finally, we should point out that the Main Room and the areas designed for the artistic and educational events on the 4th and 5th floors will intercommunicate through cameras. This indicates that whenever events, talks or interviews take place in one of these rooms, they are simultaneously projected on screens or wall-screens placed in different spots inside or even outside the Library.