History_of_Tallinn_Central_Library

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYTALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Founded in 1907 www.keskraamatukogu.ee

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYThe library was founded by themunicipality of Tallinn and it wasopened for the citizens on October27, 1907. For the first 15-20 yearslibrary was mainly a reading room.Library users had to be older than16 years. Students were allowed touse the library only according towritten permissions by theirschoolmasters.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYIn 1920, the library was removed tothe centre of the city (EstoniaAvenue 8).The house was originally built(1894-1895) for the Tallinn RussianSocial Community. At first thebuilding had one big main hall withstage, banquet hall, reading room,bowling, billiard tables, rooms forplaying cards.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYIn 1921-1950 Aleksander Sibul wasthe head of the library and alsoplayed an important role in thedevelopment of the whole Estonianlibrarianship at that time.Tallinn Central Library currentlyprovides a scholarship, named afterAleksander Sibul, for librarianshipstudents.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Aleksander Sibul

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY1923 – the library started with homelending.The first branch library was openedin 1926.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Reading room in 1930s

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Reading room in 1930s

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Reading room (1957)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYEstonian literature department (1957)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYEstonian literature department (1957)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYCollection Management Department in 1960s

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYDuring the Soviet and Germancensorship a great number of bookswas removed and destroyed, thelibrary became an ideologicalinstitution.There were only 60, 000 items at thelibrary in 1952 (1937- 113, 601 items).Later the number of books began togrow.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY1959 - 1961 library begin with theopen shelves system.In 1962 Tallinn Central Librarystarts using unified library card,which can be used in alldepartments.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY1986- fire in the main buildingEstonia Ave. 8 started the longawaited overhaul.None of the books was notdestroyed, but the building wasbadly damaged.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYIn 1990s the library changed to acultural and educational centre.1993 – library started to enter theirfunds into the computer.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYFirst computer in our library

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYEstonian literature department (1993)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Reading room (1995)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY Main entrance (1993)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYIn 2000 library’s main buildingreconstruction started.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY2002- library service started in newrenovated building in Estonia Ave. 8again.Children and music department firststarted as separate departments inTallinn Central Library.And the library started to useautomated library system.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY2005- first building built onlyfor our library purpose wascompleted- branch library inPääsküla.

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYBranch library in Pääsküla (2005)

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARY

TALLINN CENTRAL LIBRARYToday:*19 branch libraries*total collection over 1, 035, 557 items*57% in Estonian, 38% in Russian,others in English, German, Finnish,French and other languages*In 2005- 88 794 users