More than 16,000 people at the Night of the Libraries

Guided tours, lectures and other activities: Around 16,200 people took advantage of the offers at the first nationwide Night of Libraries in Saxony. The Saxony state association of the German Library Association (dbv) was satisfied with the turnout last Friday. Board member Susanne Metz spoke of a great success. 125 libraries in Saxony took part with 400 events.

The large number of visitors to the Library Night shows how attractive and in demand libraries are, said Katrin Stump, Director General of the Saxon State and University Library (SLUB) Dresden. "Despite the tight financial situation, it is all the more important to strengthen libraries as non-commercial meeting, cultural and educational places, as knowledge centers for research and study and often also as the last cultural spaces in rural regions," said Stump, who is also a board member of the dbv state association.