1. Afroditi Fragkou Treasurer of EEBEP Librarian at Eugeneia Library infoscienceaddict@gmail.com Association of Greek Librarians & Information Scientists

2. The need for libraries has always been there Ancient Greek Libraries The library of Peisistratos (527 b.C.) The library of Alexandreia ( 300 b.C.) The library of Pergamos (200 b.C.) The library of Adrianos in Athens (131-132) Byzantine Public Libraries Libraries during Turkish occupation

3. 2 different things Public libraries (Dimosies vivliothikes) Municipal libraries (Dimotikes vivliothikes) Multiple administrative models Public libraries Ministry of Education Municipal libraries Municipalities Public Entities Departments of Public Entities Department of the Municipality Departments of Municipal Enterprises

4. 46 Public Libraries 268 Municipal libraries (EETAA, 2008-2009) Low to no budgets for acquisitions. Transitional season – Vague situation Kallikratis Law 3852/2010 New Architecture of Local Government and Decentralized Administration The reform is not complete yet. Main change: 910 Municipalities (2010) 326 (today)

5. Good news 46% of personnel with a TEI degree is a librarian Bad news Only 18% of personnel with an AEI degree is a librarian Not every library has a librarian Only 50% of the personnel is permanent

6. 90% of funding comes from the municipality 70% of budget is payroll 7% of budget goes to acquisitions (2006- 2007 figures) During the economic crisis is much less

7. Reading rooms Book Lending Book Clubs Events (Book presentation, Arts & Crafts for kids, teens or adults, speeches, seminars) Educational programs (in cooperation with school communities – not many school libraries exist) Information literacy Computers for the customers and / or Wi-Fi Services adapted for people with disabilities

8. Understaffed Not every library has a librarian Retired personnel doesnt get replaced Head-less National Library for 9 years

9. Budget-cuts Lack of libraries culture at they early educational stages. Library – hostile legislation Lack of government support to libraries

10. Founded in 1968 Institutional representative for librarians & libraries in Greece Standing Committee for Public (Municipal) Libraries aims to record and promote the solution of the major problems faced by them

11. 3 PanHellenic Conferences on Municipal Libraries Proposal for a National Policy of Municipal Libraries Issued a questionnaire on public and municipal libraries Petition to save our libraries: goo.gl/TeKYNgoo.gl/TeKYN Libraries are… wherever you are campaign Guidance upon request