In Fribourg, Switzerland, our fellow countryman Panagiotis Petropoulos mobilized his Swiss friends in order to contribute to the project for the preservation and upgrading of the Historical Library as well as for its enrichment and further equipment in order that the site can meet the grandness of the rare and precious writings and publications that it accommodates. In the year 1987, two twinned associations are founded: the ?Swiss Association of Friends of the Library of Andritsaina?, with Fribourg, Switzerland, as its seat, and the ?Greek Association of Friends of the Library of Andritsaina? in Greece, with the common purpose of the protection of the intellectual capital of the Library of Andritsaina. Throughout the last thirty years, a productive collaboration between the Associations, the Library and all the Agencies that respected the visions of Konstantinos Nikolopoulos and Panagiotis Petropoulos has been developed. In the context of the collaboration the following activities have taken place:
– Collaboration between all the agencies involved for the completion of the building in which the Library is housed.
– Wooden showcases with special standards were constructed in order to secure the ideal conditions for the preservation of the collections which are kept at the Library.
– The Library was equipped with a specialized book preservation laboratory within the site of the Library, in order to preserve the historical volumes of the Nikolopoulos Collection, which operates up to present on the basis of the exclusive funding of the Swiss Association.
In the year 2012 the Swiss Association, determined to advance the goals set by Panagiotis Petropoulos, meaning the collaboration between Greece and Switzerland, and holding firm that the treasure which is kept at the Library forms part of the European cultural heritage, in joint with all members of the Association, contributes to the Library?s mission, by funding the preservation of the historical books of the ?K.A. NIKOLOPOULOU? Donation. The Public Historical Library of Andritsaina expresses its warm gratitude to the ?Swiss Association of Friends of the Library of Andritsaina? and to the ?Greek Association of Friends of the Library of Andritsaina?, for their invaluable contributions up to present.
