UT Library opened a web exhibition of photos “From a Dream to Reality: 35 Years from the Opening of the Library Building”

UT Library opened a photo exhibition on its website, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the opening of the new building in Struve Street. The exhibition contains … photos.

The new UT Library building was opened on 22 February 1982. The web exhibition introduces the story behind the planning and building of the library and presents photos of the construction, moving of the books, the opening ceremony and the interior design of the building.  

The exhibition was created by Malle Ermel, Head of the Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books, librarian Sulo Lembinen and artist-designer Eve Valper.  

Earlier, the library had been located in several different buildings: the main library was housed in the choir area of the ruins of the Tartu Dome, rebuilt for the library in 1804-1806; the textbook collection was held in the former university church, rebuilt for the library; several library collections were also in former university hostels at 33 Vanemuise Street and 78 Tiigi Street, as well as in the Tartu St. Alexander’s Church at Sõbra Street. Thanks to the opening of the new building it was possible to bring all book collections, staff members and library users under one and the same roof.

The building was designed by the architects Mart Kalling and Kalju Valdre from RPI Eesti Tööstusprojekt. The author of the interior design was Ülo Sirp. The constructor of the building was Tartu Ehitustrusti Ehitusvalitsus no 1.

The neo-functionalist building gained attention in the former Soviet Union as well as in abroad. 

All photos are from the UT Library photo collection. Link to web exhibition: http://utlib.ut.ee/kogud/omeka/exhibits/show/rmtk_maja_synnipaev_35