Czech Library of Václav Havel to Continue Under New Name After Widow Blocks Name Use

The Library of Václav Havel announced that it will continue its research, educational and outreach programmes, but will operate under a new name. The change follows Dagmar Havlová, widow of the former president, revoking permission to use Václav Havel’s name. Consequently, the library will no longer organise the annual Václav Havel Human Rights Award conference, which required the Havel name.

A new governing board, led by David Dušek, is forming a fresh team and will launch a recruitment process for a new director to replace Tomáš Sedláček. The institution plans a public exhibition in Prague’s Mariánské Square to mark the 90th anniversary of Havel’s birth and will maintain collaborations with the city and other cultural partners.