Czech flood assistance to cultural heritage – how you can
help

Dear colleagues:

As you know, in August 2002, massive flooding ravaged Central
Europe.  The Czech Republic suffered the worst floods since at
least the 15th century.  The speed and unforeseeable extent of the
disaster - at its crest, the Vltava (Moldau) was more than 22 feet
above its normal level - overwhelmed the preparations put into
place.  Every fortieth citizen was forced to leave home.  State of
emergency was declared in almost half the country.  Several
villages and many homes, schools and hospitals, etc., were
completely destroyed, infrastructure damaged, businesses ruined.
Parts of the beautiful historic capital Prague and many other old
cities were completely flooded.  While most of the country's
architectural monuments, including the historic center of Prague,
have been preserved, invaluable cultural heritage was damaged and
destroyed.  It is estimated that flooding has caused at least $130
million in damage to cultural treasures and historic sites – the
greatest loss ever caused by a natural catastrophe.  Many libraries
and archives, museum depositories, theaters and concert halls
were inundated, resulting in heavy losses in collections,
infrastructure and equipment.

More than 50 libraries were inundated and about one million
volumes from various library collections, among them incunables,
early prints and printed books, and rare documents, have been
damaged.  150,000 rare books were frozen, to allow for possible
future restoration.  Libraries whose losses surpass $100,000
include those of the Institutes of Archaeology, History of Art,
Philosophy, Sociology, Nuclear Physics, Physical and Inorganic
Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences; Prague Municipal Library;
Mathematics, Physics, and Law School Libraries of Charles
University; the National Library; the Research Library of South
Bohemia; the libraries of Kralupy, Terezin (Theresienstadt),
Zbraslav, Steti.

Losses of archives and museums are even heavier.  Miles of
archival shelves were flooded, causing the loss of unique,
irreplaceable documents.  Among the most grievously stricken
repositories are the Architecture Archives and the Archives of the
History of Technology and Industry of the National Technical
Museum, the Military History Archives, the archives of the
Academy of Sciences, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech
Statistics Office, Terezin Museum, Prague Municipal Court,
Ministries of Transportation, Agriculture, and Industry, the National
Museum’s Music collection, the National Central Archives.

Inundated museums include the Kampa Museum of 20th century art
(opened barely six weeks before the flood), the National Technical
Museum, the Terezin Memorial, the Bedrich Smetana Museum,
the Naprstek Museum of Ethnography, the Tyrs Museum of
Physical Culture and Sport, several regional museums.  Flood
damaged numerous castles and palaces, with their interiors (e.g.,
J. Navratil’s frescoes at Libechov) and gardens.

An impressive campaign of self-help has been mounted in the
country.  United in determination and civic spirit, people and the
authorities are working hard to salvage and to restore what may be
saved.

Help is pouring in from everywhere in the world, including the
United States.  But the damage is so vast that material and
financial support will be needed for many months and years to
come.  The enormity of expenses required overwhelms all
possibilities of the country’s institutions.  Therefore, the afflicted
institutions appeal to the world cultural community to help remedy
the damages.  Among the many ways to help are donations of
funds, publications (books, periodicals), materials, drying
technologies and equipment, and professional assistance.

Regarding the floods, aid and donations, information may be
obtained from the concerned institutions and their websites.
The following will assist potential donors in finding the best
match for their aid.

LIBRARIES:

Coordination center: National Library of the Czech Republic
Klementinum, 110 01 Prague 1
Jirí Polišenský, tel. +420 2 81 013 309, fax +420 2 81 013 107,
{ HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]

Association of Library and Information Professionals of the Czech
Republic (SKIP)
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.nkp.cz/o_knihovnach/konsorcia/skip/index.htm" }http://www.nkp.cz/o_knihovnach/konsorcia/skip/index.htm
Klementinum 190, 110 01 Prague 1, Vit Richter, tel. +420 2 21 663
338, fax +420 2 21 663 175, { HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]

Ikaros (Electronic Journal of the Information Society)
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.ikaros.cz" }www.ikaros.cz (in Czech)
Information and photographs

IFLA
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.ifla.org/III/misc/clementinum.html" }Please, help the Czech Libraries
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.ifla.org/III/misc/clementinum.html" }http://www.ifla.org/III/misc/clementinum.html

Aid to all libraries:
Account no. 000 000 - 194 361 0319/ 0800, constant code 0558
Bank: Ceska sporitelna
Branch: Rytirska ul., Prague 1, Czech Republic
Contributions to this account may name specific libraries.  General
contributions will be allocated, in proportion to need, by the
Association of Library and Information Professionals of the Czech
Republic (SKIP).

Aid to the National Library of the Czech Republic { HYPERLINK "http://www.nkp.cz" }www.nkp.cz:
Account no. 123-85535-011/0100
Bank: Commercial Bank
Branch: Staromestské nám. 24, Prague 1, Czech Republic

Aid to Prague Municipal Library { HYPERLINK "http://www.mlp.cz" }http://www.mlp.cz:
Account no. 2000280080/6000, variable code 91412, constant code
0379
SWIFT code: PMBP CZPP

ARCHIVES:

Coordination center: State Central Archives
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.mvcr.cz/archivy" }http://www.mvcr.cz/archivy
Archivní 4, 149 01 Prague 4 – Chodovec
Michal Durovic, tel. +420 2 61 447 472, fax +420 2 61 447 215,
{ HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]

LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES:

UNESCO
"Floods in Europe: Damages to libraries and archives"
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.unesco.org/webworld/floods_europe" }http://www.unesco.org/webworld/floods_europe
Information service on the damages in libraries and archives in
Europe and on actions taken for disaster recovery
Contact: Axel Plathe, Information Society Division, UNESCO, 1,
rue Miollis, 75015 Paris, tel. +33 1 45 68 44 67, fax +33 1 45 68 55
83, { HYPERLINK "http://www.unesco.org/webworld" }http://www.unesco.org/webworld

SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES:

The Prague Post Flood Relief Fund for Schools and Libraries
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.praguepost.com" }www.praguepost.com
The Prague Post (an English-language newspaper published in
Prague) and the Prague Post Endowment Fund established a flood
relief fund for schools and libraries in flood-damaged communities.
Funds will be used to aid damaged or destroyed school and
community libraries.   Grants will be given to individual preschools,
elementary schools, secondary schools and community libraries
with a priority on restocking books and rebuilding damaged
structures.
Contributions can be made to:
Account no. 179138148/0300
Bank: CSOB, a.s.
Branch: Jungmannova 15, Prague 1, Czech Republic
SWIFT code: CEKO CZ PP PRA.
Personal checks, payable to Nadacní Fond Prague Post
Endowment Fund, can also be sent to:
Prague Post Endowment Fund, Flood Relief Fund
Stepanska 20, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
For more information:
{ HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.praguepost.com/P02/2002/20814/help.php" }www.praguepost.com/P02/2002/20814/help.php

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES:

Coordination center: Associations of Museum and Galleries
Dagmar Fialová, tel.+420 2 24 210 037, fax +420 2 24 210 047,
{ HYPERLINK "mailto:[log in to unmask]" [log in to unmask]
Account no. 27-7705500277/0100, constant code 0558

SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES:

Coordination center: Academy of Science of the Czech Republic
Petr Nejedlý, tel. +420 2 23 212 52, fax +420 2 23 229 62,
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FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE RENOVATION:

{ HYPERLINK "http://www.pinf.cz" }People in Need Foundation and { HYPERLINK "http://www.nadacevia.cz" }VIA Foundation, two well-
established Czech foundations, created a partnership to help
people in communities damaged by floods through two independent
funds: “Immediate Flood Relief and Renewal Fund” and “Cultural
Heritage Renovation Fund.”   The latter Fund is directed to save
and repair damaged cultural and historic monuments and heritage
in flooded areas in Prague and throughout the Czech Republic.
Tax-deductible contributions are possible through a U.S. fiscal
partner with 501(c)(3) status:
Payable to “Foundation for a Civil Society/VIA”
Foundation for a Civil Society
P.O. Box 2235
New York, NY 10021
Please indicate “flood relief PINF” or “cultural heritage VIA” on the
check.
By bank transfer:
“Flood Relief PINF”
Account no. 204 104 0104/2600
Bank: Citibank
Branch: Evropska 178, 166 40 Prague 6, Czech Republic
SWIFT code: CITIZPX
For more information: { HYPERLINK "http://www.floods.cz" }www.floods.cz.  Names of donors are
published in a gallery.

FOR GENERAL FLOOD RELIEF:

AFoCR - Prague-Needs-Help Flood Relief Fund ({ HYPERLINK "http://www.afocr.org" }www.afocr.org)
Fund established by The American Friends of the Czech Republic
in co-operation with the Czech Embassy.  Tax-deductible
contributions can be made by a check to "AFoCR - Prague-Needs-
Help Flood Relief Fund".  Please mail the checks to
"AFoCR - Prague-Needs-Help Flood Relief Fund"
Account no. 1507-4196, ABA/routing no.2540-70116
Bank: Citibank FSB
Branch: 1901 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 20007
American Friends of the Czech Republic is a 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information: { HYPERLINK "http://www.afocr.org" }www.afocr.org.
Also Petr Janousek, Press Secretary of the Czech Embassy, tel.
(202) 274-9112, (202) 413-7625

To make a direct contribution to the Czech Republic:
A flood relief account has been opened by the Czech Government
at The Czech National Bank { HYPERLINK "http://www.cnb.cz" }www.cnb.cz:
Account no. 9025-001/0710
SWIFT code for transfers from the USA: CHASUS33.
The Czech National Bank is waiving the usual transfer fee.  Any
international transfer fees imposed by your U.S. bank will apply.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Czech Center New York
1109 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10028
T: 212-288-0830
F: 212-288-0971
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.czechcenter.com" }www.czechcenter.com

ADDITIONAL WEBPAGES:
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/floods" }www.ceskenoviny.cz/floods
{ HYPERLINK "http://www.neziskovky.cz" }http://www.neziskovky.cz (in left menu, Povodne/Floods, then
English).

T h a n k   y o u

Suzanna

Suzanna Simor, Ph.D.
Head, Art Library
Director, Art Center
Queens College/CUNY
Flushing, NY 11367
T (718) 997-3771
F (718) 997-3753
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