Městská knihovna v Praze is a public library based in its main building on Mariánské náměstí in Prague. On Monday 28 September 2026, it became the institution that officially took over the administration of the legacy and copyrights of Václav Havel, the first president of Czechoslovakia and of the Czech Republic after the fall of communism and a major world-renowned playwright.[1][2]*
Takeover of Havel's legacy
The announcement was made personally by Dagmar Havlová, who on the occasion of the handover unveiled the Václav Havel Bench in front of the library's main building on Mariánské náměstí. With this act, the celebrations of what would have been his 90th birthday this year were also launched.[1][2] Regarding the new task, the spokesperson of Městská knihovna, Lenka Hanzlíková, stated that the institution has sufficient capacity to administer Havel's legacy and plans to approach the entire library community in the future. The library is to present the detailed programme connected with Havel's legacy on 24 November.[1]
Cooperation with the National Library that did not take place
According to findings by Hospodářské noviny, the involvement of the National Library had also been under consideration; it is substantially larger, in some respects technically better equipped, and cooperates with Městská knihovna on large projects.[1][2] However, the cooperation was thwarted by a political condition set by the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, which is the founder of the National Library: Minister Oto Klempíř was to be personally present at Monday's ceremony as a representative of the state.[1] A behind-the-scenes dispute over his attendance culminated in an ultimatum, after which Dagmar Havlová refused the minister's presence, which also ended the National Library's participation in administering the legacy.[1] The Ministry of Culture and the National Library did not respond to questions about the cooperation that did not take place, and Dagmar Havlová also provided no statement. The spokesperson of Městská knihovna did not comment on any direct negotiations with the National Library.[1]
Demise of the Václav Havel Library
The change of administrator of Havel's intellectual property follows the breakup of the original Knihovna Václava Havla, which had operated since 2004. After internal disputes between its then leadership and Dagmar Havlová and sponsors, the former first lady withdrew its licence to use the name, whereupon the organisation was renamed 1. prezidentská knihovna.[1]
Chronology
- — Dagmar Havlová announced that the Prague City Library is taking over the management of Václav Havel's legacy and unveiled the Václav Havel Bench on Mariánské náměstí, opening the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of his birth. → Seznam Zprávy Hospodářské noviny