Library
of the Municipal Center for Historical Research and Documentation
The library of Volos's Municipal Center for History and
Documentation started operating in 1992, its aim being the
collection, administration, utilization and promotion of
any kind or form of printed documents relating to the history
of Volos and its greater area. From the beginning of its
operation, the Municipality of Volos's old book collection,
which up to that moment had been housed in the City Hall
area, came under its ownership and was subsequently enriched
with books and material, with emphasis on the field of history.
Its basic goal has been the collection of publications
that either concerned the city of Volos or were published
in the greater Magnesia area. The purpose was the development
of a collection that could assist researchers and specialists
in comprehending the city's historical physiognomy. During
this time, lots of donations but also big collection purchases
were added to the initial library collection, its volume
increased to more than 35.000 book volumes, as well as approximately
500 magazine and periodical titles, many of which exist
in their complete series.
In the above numbers included are the donations from the
G. Siafleki's library (1999), the collections of the Law
History professor Nikolaos I. Padazopoulos (2002), of the
Neohellenic Literature professor Alkis Aggelos (2005), of
the journalist, author and researcher Nitsa Koliou (2005),
of the writer Lefteris Raftopoulos (2003), of the lawyer
K. Samaras (2001), of professor Tasos Arvanitakis (Falkou)(2003)
as well as minor volume collections.
The library is housed on the second floor of Spirer Building's
east wing, in a spacious and recently renovated place. It
offers 15 seats in the Reading Room where everyone can look
up information on subjects that concern him (various educational
levels projects, researches regarding the history of the
area), as well as read books, newspapers and magazines.
Use of the Reading Room is free to all, during operation
hours of the Municipal Center for History.
From the whole of the collection, due to its special interest,
only a part is available for lending. It stands in a different
area from the rest of the collection and it comprises Greek
and foreign contemporary fiction books, children's literature,
in Greek, English, French, German and Italian.
Library membership is free and can be obtained by anyone.
An identity Card or any other document attesting to the
identity and domicile particulars is prerequisite. Each
member can lend 2 books for 15 days and has the right to
a 15-day renewal, in case he did not have time to read them.
The Volos Municipal Center for History is responsible for
the operation of the mobile library, conceded in 1998 by
TEDK (Local Union of Municipalities and Communities) of
the Magnesia Prefecture.
The operation of the mobile library is expressly clearly
oriented towards the support of education and the encouragement
in reading in remote city neighborhoods, carrying out interventions
in schools and neighborhoods inside and outside Volos urban
planning, while during the summer time it settles in the
Alykes seashore, lending books to the bathers, who combine
vacation relaxation with reading entertainment.
The library uses the National Documentation Center library
automation system ABEKT 5.5 for the automation of its operation,
while an ABEKT Z39.50 Web Gate Server is installed for the
open public access of its catalogues with the use of a web
browser. Greek and international standards and practices
are used for the material elaboration. AACR2 are used for
materials indexing, adapted to the Greek language requirements
in UNIMARC Format layout. The Decimal Classification System
Dewey is used for classification. The Greek National Library
Subject Headings are used for thematic analysis, while the
respective libraries and organizations headlines are used
for the standards attribution, as they appear on the web
catalogues. The library has a complete series of ELOT standards
(Hellenic Organization for Standardization) concerning the
documentation.
DIKI has the scientific supervision of the libraries and
the Volos Municipal Corporations and Organizations since
1998. It organized the Volos Municipality Library Network
and a group of activities for the promotion of books and
reading, the libraries operation automation and the constant
training of its personnel.
The
Municipal Center for History possesses today a rich archive
that consists of the Volos Municipality archive (1883-1982),
46 private archives concerning directly or indirectly the
city and its greater area, archives of old industrial enterprises,
as well as important material of building plans, maps, aerial
photos, transparencies and photos.
The
library of Volos's Municipal Center for History and Documentation
started operating in 1992, its aim being the collection,
administration, utilization and promotion of any kind or
form of printed documents. 
