Digital encyclopedia ‘About Libraries - aboutlibraries.gr’ expands and reaches international audiences

Engravings, photographs and historical publications are showcased in the exhibition ‘About Libraries’ which is being hosted at the ESIEA ‘Dimitris I. Pournaras’ Library until October 14, 2022. These are rare and representative samples from the material of the website ‘About Libraries - aboutlibraries.gr’ The opening of the exhibition took place on Thursday, 29 September, in the building of ESIEA. It was organized by the non-profit Society 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' and the National Documentation Centre (EKT).

New actions for the expansion and internationalization of the digital encyclopedia were presented at the event. ‘About Libraries’ (www.aboutlibraries.gr) already includes over 3,500 digital items, processed and documented: encyclopedic entries, bibliographic references and a rich artwork collection (manuscript illuminations, woodcuts, copper engravings, lithographs, paintings, drawings and photographs of sculptures & architectural works, etc.). It is a space for original research and for the collection of important, rare, archival and other materials, which focuses on libraries and their history, presenting not only unique collections, but also people associated with libraries in East and West from antiquity to the present day.

Speakers at the event were Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic; Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou, president of ‘Diktio / Network for Reform in Greece and Europe’, president of the EU Commission for the Future of the Social State, former commissioner of the European Union and former minister; Ms. Evi Sachini, director of the National Centre Documentation (EKT) and Mr. Konstantinos Sp. Staikos, founder and representative of 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden'.

In his speech, Prokopios Pavlopoulos emphasized the timeless value of books and libraries and the importance and uniqueness of the digital encyclopedia ‘About Libraries’. As he pointed out, ‘In the digital age in which we live, and which some believed to be the end of the book, the About Libraries project with its global reach is a resounding response which shows that by using technology correctly, as befits the human spirit, another era of the book is now beginning. Thus, in its new form, it becomes a possession for all time and a possession of all, and in any case the sense of a book and a library remains. Let’s not forget that the spring and simultaneously the dawn of the spirit of Ancient Greece began in the library halls”.

Anna Diamantopoulou stressed the libraries’ contribution to the documenting of the history of human civilization and the new technological developments that expand their role, the actions of the 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' and the international collaborations that have been developing recently. Referring to the co-operation of the 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' with EKT, she noted ‘The About Libraries website is a digital encyclopedia of great collections and personalities from the world of books, connected to all the libraries of the West and East, the creators and keepers of knowledge. The material is an amazing collection, it is pictorial material, it is factual information. The collaboration of the 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' with EKT is of pivotal importance both for the promotion of the content and for its accessibility’.

In her speech, Evi Sachini underlined EKT’s fruitful co-operation with 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' and Konstantinos Staikos, noting that, ’Our goal is to create a global digital library of libraries open to the internet public, with a user-friendly search and navigation system. A hub in which important, original content relating to the institution of libraries is stored in a way that meaningfully connects the individual pieces of information so that knowledge can be created and upon knowledge the ‘wisdom’ that humanity has always sought’. She even pointed out the role of libraries: ‘An important factor for the success of the project is enticing and convincing the libraries themselves, the custodians of deposited knowledge, to go on this journey’.

Konstantinos Sp. Staikos focused on the organisation of the material and the future goals and actions of ‘About Libraries’. He said, ‘We record all Greek libraries: university, private, institutional and any other type, post the entries online and translate them, at least into English, while the translation into Chinese and other languages is planned, in order to reach the international audience’. Staikos also mentioned the collaborations with Onassis Foundation for the expansion of the content, with Sylvia Ioannou Foundation for the registration of the libraries of Cyprus, with the Society for the Promotion of Education and Learning (Filekpaideutiki Etaireia) for educational programmes and with  ‘Diktio / Network for Reform in Greece and Europe’ for actions that will highlight the digital benefits of new technological tools.

The event, which was addressed by the president of ESIEA, Ms. Maria Antoniadou, was attended by Mr. Georgios Babiniotis, academic and president of Society for the Promotion of Education and Learning (Filekpaideutiki Etaireia), Mr. Antonis Papadimitriou, President of Onassis Foundation, Mr. Yiannis Rountos, former director of corporate affairs, communication and accountability of Interamerican Group and many official guests and bibliophiles.

The purpose of the exhibition, in addition to showcasing ‘About Libraries - aboutlibraries.gr’ and officially  presenting  'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' to the public, was to raise awareness amongst the general public and specialists about the method by which this digital encyclopedia is enriched and organized. Thus, sixteen showcases display unique pictorial material from the Photo Gallery of www.aboutlibraries.gr, with artwork depicting historic libraries from the Byzantine era, the Italian Renaissance and the Enlightenment, as well as thinkers, mainly Greek and European, in their library or in the company of their books.

The exhibition’s bilingual catalogue (Greek-English) is available in print and electronic form and aspires to reach all libraries internationally, to provide artistic stimuli and promote wider online discussion on knowledge issues.

The exhibition ‘About Libraries - aboutlibraries.gr’ is open to the public at the ESIEA ‘Dimitris I. Pournaras’ Library (20, Akadimias & Voukourestiou Street, 2nd Floor) until November 25, 2022 (opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10.00 -14.00).

Watch the video from the event (in Greek)

A Collaboration of ΕΚΤ & 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' for the promotion of the institution of libraries and digital culture

In creating the digital encyclopedia ‘About Libraries - aboutlibraries.gr’, the National Documentation Centre (EKT) and the non-profit company 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' aim to organise, record and showcase the history of libraries and their collections, in a friendly and direct manner, as well as create a hub for the collection of material, information, research and the interconnection of library people in Greece and the world.

The content comes, first of all, from the pictorial collection and archive of K.Sp. Staikos, book collector and historian, with many years of systematic research on the architecture, history and content of libraries, as well as publishing and printing activity. At present, priority has been given to incorporating Greek libraries and enriching the website with data and content from the libraries themselves, relating to the history, architecture, archives and the persons associated with the libraries.

EKT developed a modern technological infrastructure, incorporating the appropriate documentation scheme. It curated and structured the content by thematic units with the alternatives of alphabetical, chronological and geographical presentation to satisfy various research requirements. At the same time, it applied the appropriate practices for the structured and methodologically sound production of new content in accordance with modern library standards and information representation models.

EKT and 'Kipos Filovivlon/Philobiblians' Garden' sealed their continuous and friendly co-operation, by signing a cooperation Framework for the development of the digital encyclopedia ’About Libraries’. This partnership focuses on actions related to digital culture and the exercise of upgraded cultural management aimed at the digitisation of visual material, the addition of new historical essays from contemporary research, the development of an outward-looking network of libraries and the exchange of authoritative knowledge.

Working together with the libraries themselves, the central aim of ‘About Libraries’ is the formation of an intellectual meeting place and a multilingual digital network, with material that will trace and highlight the evolution of the library institution. The value of the work produced is projected internationally as the English version is already available and translation into other languages is forthcoming.