In 1955, in a speech dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the birth of the German composer Konradin Kreuzer, Martin Heidegger developed the theme of “contemplative thought”. “How to talk about a person whose mission in life was creativity?” he asked. Of course, we can remember him by listening to his writings or recounting passages from his life. All this is good, but it is not enough, the philosopher notes. In order not to become just ceremonial, a commemorative holiday should be an occasion for reflection.

The death of Filippos Tsiboglu, Director General of the National Library of Greece (NBH), prompts us to reflect on his work and therefore on the nature of a public servant who puts himself at the service of the common good. I met Philip in 2010 when he was director of the University of Cyprus Library (UCL). He held the position from 1999 to 2014, having been hired following an international job posting. He is the man who raised the PC Library: he dynamically introduced it into the digital age, greatly enriched its sources and international connections, and elevated it, in fact, to the level of the country’s national library.

Since P.K. is the flagship of higher education in Cyprus, its library occupies a leading position among the libraries of the island. Philip was aware of this position, which is why he spearheaded the creation of the Cypriot Libraries Consortium, knowing that the development of the P.K. would form broader criteria for library behavior.

He was not a neurotic bureaucrat who carried out his duties with formal conscientiousness. He created, brought to the fore his role and, through it, the entity he directed. He knew that no role is a metal form, but clay, which is shaped by the owner of the role. He was looking for solutions to practical problems, without strengthening himself behind the well-known bureaucracy of public organizations. Procedures for him were a means, not an end in themselves. Meek and modest, he won the trust of the staff and donors of the Library. Enthusiastic, he inspired without becoming the center of attention. He empowered his associates and took care of their development. He was an example of a quiet leader.

His career represents post-political Greece at its best: a child from a rural working-class family (born in Farsala in 1956), studies (first at ASOEE, later received a PhD from the Ionian University), works hard and develops professionally in this field. he loves librarianship. Open and strong-willed, with a consciousness of Greekness and cosmopolitanism, logical and tender at the same time, he passionately and selflessly devotes himself to his work. He never took on the role of mediator. He wanted to leave things better than they were, to add value to everything he did.

When he announced his retirement from PK in 2014 to take over as CEO of EBE, we had mixed feelings. On the one hand a feeling of deep sadness that we will lose such a worthy director, on the other hand a feeling of joy because EBE will finally have a director in eight years, and indeed of such a caliber, at a critical moment in its history. : The new director had to organize the transfer of EBE from Valianio Megaro to SNFCC from scratch.

His decision, of course, was not easy and not even reasonable. His salary will be greatly reduced – almost by half; working conditions in Greece, under austerity, will not be the best and certainly not as good as in Cyprus, he will manage a monstrous project with a minimal budget, scarce resources and incredible stress. However, for Philip, these were creative challenges, not insurmountable obstacles. At some point, I asked him why he was leaving a great position for another, less attractive one. “The National Library is the dream of a lifetime,” he told me. He seemed to be telling me: there are things more important than financial rewards.

Like in PK, he also excelled in EBE despite many hardships. Transporting a national library would be a difficult task even in well organized countries. In Greece it was a struggle. With a frantic pace of work, Philip succeeded.

As an excellent professional, he did not dwell on the current management, but always thought about the future, deeply aware of the past. He knew that the VBE, among other things, keeps the memory of the nation (rare manuscripts and archives, etc.). He realized his managerial responsibility, developing a character that combines calculation, vision and passion. “[Οραματίζομαι την ΕΒΕ] a true international center for the study of Greek culture, which you cannot pass by,” he said in an interview in 2017, shortly before the transfer of EBE to SNFCC. “We will have a Greek-focused character but expanded around the world where Greek culture is of interest. Near, [η ΕΒΕ] it will be open to the public in cooperation with the libraries of the territory. […] The library will be accessible and at the same time iconic, serious, non-serious, intimate and large. […] We will have a classic National Library for researchers and at the same time for the general public.”

As a systems thinker, he was aware that his goals were somewhat contradictory (“binary,” as he put it) that were “difficult to reconcile” consistently. But that’s how he saw his role: to try his best. Algorithms also simplify management. Creative, visionary and efficient management is carried out by enlightened people with passion, such as Philip. “We are working for this. [το όραμα] putting the mood, the mind and the heart,” he said in an interview. Unfortunately, it turned out that this is what he meant. He loaded his heart with work that it could not bear. He will be missed by many in Greece and Cyprus, especially to his wife Niki and we will always miss him.

* Mr. Haridemos K. Tsoukas (www.htsoukas.com) is Professor at the University of Cyprus and Research Professor at the University of Warwick.