Larnaca Municipal Library was founded in September 1955, during the mayoralty of Georgios Christodoulides, and was initially housed in the then Town Hall building. In 1971, under Mayor Annivas Frangis, the current building was erected within the Municipal Garden, at the corner of Leonidas Kioupi and Grigoris Afxentiou Streets, thanks to the generous donation of Princess Zina Kanther de Tyras. The inauguration of the new building took place on January 24, 1971, in the presence of the benefactor, and the space served as both the Municipal Library and Art Gallery.
From 1971 until February 1975, the Library and Art Gallery operated partially. In February 1975, the Library officially opened to the public as a reading room, housing 5,000 book volumes. The steadily growing number of visitors led to its conversion into a fully lending library in July 1984. Until 1996, the ground floor also accommodated the Municipal Art Gallery, which was later relocated to a specially designed venue.
In 2012, during the term of Mayor Andreas Moiseos, the Library underwent a full renovation. The building was upgraded to be more functional, offering more study areas, Wi-Fi coverage, a central heating and cooling system, storage rooms with controlled temperature and humidity for archive preservation, security systems, and an elevator, ensuring full accessibility for individuals with mobility difficulties. A warm and welcoming Children’s Section named “Christina A. Apostolou”, funded by the foundation of the same name, was also established on the ground floor.
The Library is currently organised across three floors. The ground floor houses the public service desks, the Children’s Department “Christina A. Apostolou”, the Legal Department “Alkis Iacovides”, the Children’s Activities Room “Larnaca Children’s Holiday Camp”, the storage areas for periodicals, the archive of the Official Gazette of the Republic, the Parliamentary Proceedings, and the Foreign Languages Section. The first floor accommodates the Lending Department and individual study areas, while the second floor includes the Cyprus Studies Department, the Reference Department, and the reading room.
The Library’s collection consists of 60,000 volumes in Greek, English, Finnish, and Romanian. It also includes 476 periodical titles, annual reports, and an extensive archive of the Official Gazette and Parliamentary Proceedings. The collection is organized according to international library standards, and all cataloguing is managed through the modern Koha library system. The electronic catalogue is available online at: https://library.larnaka.org.cy.
The Library regularly hosts scheduled school visits to help students become familiar with the space and its services. These visits often include age-appropriate storytelling sessions, cultivating a love for reading and encouraging reading habits from an early age. From October to May, themed activities are organized for children, promoting entertainment, self-expression, and creative learning.
The reading room, the heart of the Library, is a warm and inviting space where knowledge meets calm and concentration. Every day, it welcomes a large number of visitors mainly students, who find in it an ideal environment for studying, working, and researching.
On May 28, 2023, the Library inaugurated a new Children’s Activity Hall named “Larnaca Children’s Retreat”. This space was designed exclusively for children, giving them the opportunity to participate in creative and educational activities.
As part of the local government reform and the municipal unification process, under Mayor Andreas Vyras, the Larnaca Municipal Library merged with the Livadia and Voroklini Libraries. This unification enhanced cooperation, facilitated material exchange, and offered citizens broader access to information, services, and cultural activities regardless of where they live.
The Larnaca Municipal Library is a vibrant hub of knowledge, culture, and creativity, open to all citizens. Its mission is to promote lifelong learning and intellectual development through access to quality resources and events that inspire and enrich both mind and spirit. With a special focus on early childhood, it aims to nurture imagination and reading habits that will accompany children throughout their lives.
Loan and Service Usage Regulations
Larnaca Municipal Library
The Larnaca Municipal Library offers public access to printed materials and study areas. To ensure smooth operation and optimal service for all users, the following regulations apply:
Material Loans
Loan Eligibility
All users are eligible to borrow materials upon presenting:
- A valid form of identification (ID card, passport, or driver’s license)
- Proof of residential address (e.g., utility bill or other relevant document)
Membership registration requires the issuance of a Library Membership Card, which is personal and non-transferable. The card is provided either in physical form or sent electronically via email.
Membership Fees
- €10 for adults
- €7 for pupils, university students, and military conscripts
- Free for Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) recipients (with proof) and parents with four or more children (with valid P.O.P. card)
The annual membership is valid for 12 months from the registration date.
Loan Terms
- Up to 3 items may be borrowed for a period of 21 days.
- Renewal is allowed once for an additional 21 days, provided no reservation has been made by another member.
- Renewal requests must be submitted via phone, email, or in person, members cannot renew directly.
- Renewal requests must be made before the original loan period expires.
Reservations
- Members may have up to 3 active reservations for items currently on loan.
- Reservations cannot be made for materials available on the shelves.
- Once the item is returned, the member is notified by phone or email.
- Reservations are held for 3 days; if not collected within this period, the reservation is forfeited.
Late Returns & Losses
- A late return fee of €0.20 per day per item is charged.
- Timely return is the sole responsibility of the member.
- In case of loss or damage, the member must replace the item or pay its full value.
- Repeated delays (more than 3 times within 6 months) may result in a 1-month suspension of borrowing privileges.
- The Library reserves the right to permanently revoke membership in cases of persistent rule violations.
Special Cases
Teachers, researchers, and organizations may request a temporary increase in the borrowing limit, subject to Library Management approval.
Non-Lending Materials
The following materials are not available for loan:
- Reference books
- Encyclopedias
- Magazines and periodicals
- Materials from the Cyprus Collection
These items are stored on the second floor and may only be used on the premises.
Photocopying & Copyright
- A public photocopy machine is available.
- Photocopying up to 10% of a book is permitted for personal use only, in accordance with copyright law.
- Photocopying must be done carefully, without causing damage to materials.
Material Acquisition & Donations
- For books published in Cyprus, the Library purchases 1 copy directly from the publisher or author.
- For authors who reside in or originate from Larnaca, up to 3 copies may be purchased, with a maximum total of €75.
- The selection of materials is made by Library staff, aiming to maintain a modern and balanced collection.
Donations
- Donations of books or collections (such as periodicals) are welcome.
- The Library reserves the right to use, allocate, or withdraw donated items at its discretion.
Use of Technology Services
- Users may bring and use their own laptops, provided sound is disabled.
- Free wireless internet (Wi-Fi) is available. For connection instructions, please consult the Lending Desk staff.
Winter (October to May)
| Monday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:45 - 14:15 | ----- |
| Wednesday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 13:15 | ----- |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 13:15 | ----- |
Summer (June to August)
| Monday | 07:45 - 13:15 | 16.00 – 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:45 - 14:15 | ----- |
| Wednesday | 07:45 - 13:15 | 16:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:45 - 14:15 | ----- |
| Friday | 07:45 - 14:15 | ----- |
| Saturday | Closed |
Summer (September)
| Monday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:45 - 14:15 | ----- |
| Wednesday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:45 - 14:00 | 15:30 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 09:15 - 14:00 | ----- |
| Saturday | Closed | ----- |
Book Loan by:
- Telephone: 24654185
- Sms / viber: 97786357
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarnakaLibrary/about/?_rdr
Current Rules of the Larnaka Municipal Library during the COVID-19 Pandemic
It is mandatory to use a mask and disinfect hands before entering the users’ service desk.
It is prohibited to access the book shelves of the Library for the selection of books.
Return of Books
- Books must be returned at a controlled book collection point at the entrance of the Library. At this point there will be a special carton box where members of the Municipal Library must place only their books.
Books will be isolated for 6 days.
Borrowing a book
- Aiming to reduce the number of users inside the area of the Municipal Library, borrowing by distance has been applied with the use of modern technology.
- Members can find the books of the Municipal Library from the electronic list: https://liblarnaka.openabekt.gr
- Members can apply for books by:
Telephone: 24 654185
SMS 97 786357
E-mail [email protected]
Viber 97 786357 - The members shall collect their books from the service deskafter coordination with the Librarians. The loan receipt will be sent automatically by email.
- The necessary distances shall be maintained between users, with the help of signage on the floor.
- Maximum 2 persons are permitted to be present at the service desk at a time, and only at the special signposted locations.
- Only one person shall enter the library per family.
- The members of the Municipal Library remain within the building for as long as required to collect the books.
Registration of new members
- The registration of new members shall be made electronically. The candidate member shall complete the application, which is available on the website of the Municipality and send it to the email [email protected]
- The Municipal Librarian will call the candidate member and book an appointment at the preferable time so that the candidate provides the required supporting documents for identification. At the time of the identification, the membership card is delivered.
- A special provision is made for registration by phone for all persons over 60 years old.
Reading Room
- The reading room shall remain closed.
Cyprus Section
- Researchers will have access to the relevant material of the Library only after fixing an appointment and in the area which will be indicated by the Municipal Librarian. Visits will be permitted only for the purposes of research on material which may not be borrowed and taken out from the Municipal Library.
School Visits – Tours
- At this stage, school visits and tours are not permitted.
Information to Members
- The members of the Municipal Library will be informed from time to time from the website and the Facebook page of the Municipality where announcements will be published from time to time.
Prohibition of Entry
Any person having COVID-19 symptoms (general weakness, fever, coughing, muscle ache and/or runny nose) is recommended to stay out of the Municipal Library, and use only electronic services.
Address: corner of Leonidas Kioupis and Grigori Afxentiou
Telephone: 24654185
E-mail: [email protected]
Electronic search on the Library Catalogue: https://liblarnaka.openabekt.gr/ (database)
- You can download the catalogue of publications here
- You can download the book catalogue here.