Albania to build new modern facility for National Library
Albania’s National Library will soon have a new building, addressing long-standing issues with book preservation and lack of space. The new facility will be built in the area known as the former German Villas.
Why is this important: For nearly 60 years, the National Library, Albania’s most important institution for preserving the country’s cultural memory has been housed in the Palace of Culture. The National Library has faced significant challenges due to inadequate space and outdated infrastructure, which have made preserving its vast collection increasingly difficult. The new project promises to provide a modern and functional solution.
Context: The National Library’s Director, Pirro Misha, recently confirmed in a televised interview that the project is moving forward, with a competition to select the architectural firm set to open soon.
The Albanian Investment Corporation (Korporata e Investimeve Shqiptare) outlined the procedures for the project, emphasizing a partnership-based investment model:
“The investment project is implemented through a partnership model, where the Corporation acts as the developer of state-owned properties it manages and as an intermediary between the public institution, which seeks to develop its property and gain a contemporary library, and the private partner, which possesses the financial, human, and executive resources necessary to execute the investment project.”
The issue of space constraints has been a persistent challenge for decades, with various administrations promising a solution. The selection process for the new library’s design will consist of two phases, and the building is expected to cover approximately 4,000 square meters.
Next steps: The government has pledged to proceed swiftly with the bidding process, raising hopes that Albania’s National Library will finally have a modern home to preserve and showcase its literary heritage.
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