05-09-16 School libraries shut down due to crisis to re-open

The re-opening of 700 school libraries was announced by Education, Research, and Religious Affairs Nikos Filis, in his remarks on  the first day of the annual book fair at Zappeion Park.

These are libraries that shut down during the period of the bailout memorandum in order to cut back on spending and personnel.

“This year we are starting to methodically re-open school libraries, not as a books storage space where one works to complete their hourly schedule, but as a central school institution where students can, with the guidance of a librarian and a teacher trained, expand their horizons, read books beyond the one and only [required textbook], and to prepare school papers, which is so necessary for raising the level of education,” the minister said

Filis said the ministry intends to catalogue all existing collections, and then gradually enrich them with new books.