On the last day of winter, 18 April, a large exhibition on the 200-year history of the National and University Library of Iceland opened, under the name Tímanna safn (Collection of the Ages). The exhibition traces the main stages in the Library’s history, from the original idea and the Library’s growth in its various homes, such as the loft of the Cathedral, the Parliament House, the Learned School and the Culture House, to its merger with the University Library in Þjóðarbókhlaða, the library building at Arngrímsgata 3.
At the opening, Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Education, Science and Culture, gave an address, and National Librarian Ingibjörg Steinunn Sverrisdóttir spoke about stages in the Library’s history and the programme for the anniversary year. Children from the Sigursveinn music school (Tónskóli Sigursveins) played music, and prize winners from the 2018 Great Reading Competition (Stóra upplestrarkeppnin) read poems.
