FLOODS 2002
Commemoration of the Natural Disaster and Rescue Works at the
Klementinum
16 July – 31 August 2012
In summer
2002 tremendous floods, considered as the worst in the last five
hudred years, struck the Czech Republic. The level of the Vltava
River rose about seven metres above its normal level. Apart from
economic and cultural damage and human tragedies, over forty
libraries were inundated, hundreds of thousands of volumes were
soaked.
Thanks to the dedication and initiative of librarians, with help of
a lot of volunteers, individuals, organizations and companies, a
large part of the funds was saved.
A governmental programme to recover flood damages was established
and its financial means together with materiál and financial gifts
enabled to cover expenses to freeze the soaked documents and then to
dry, restore and reformat them. Staff of the National Library of the
CR played an important role in organizing cooperation among the
library institutions and significantly contributed to reach positive
results.
