National Library of the Czech Republic

The National Library of the Czech Republic (Czech: Národní knihovna České Republiky ) in Prague is the central and senior Library of the Czech Republic. It is subject to the Ministry of Culture. As the largest and one of the oldest Czech libraries, it has a population of about six million documents, with an annual increase of 70 thousand titles. The library is housed in the Clementinum in Prague's Old Town.

History

In addition to some libraries of the University of Prague was built in the 13th century Dominican monastery in Prague's Old Town School General Studies, which merged in the 14th century, together with the library of the University. In 1556 Jesuit monks built on the ruins of the convent boarding school, which was called Clementinum. 1622 was also the Charles University under the administration of the Jesuits and all libraries were housed in the Clementinum.

After the dissolution of the Jesuit Order, the University in 1773 was a state institution and its library in February 1777 Maria Theresia "public kk University Library " explains what in 1887 on behalf of the library manifested (ck Veřejná a Univerzitní knihovna ). The library for both universities remained as a joint facility, even after the division of the university in 1882 in a Czech and a German university.

After 1918, the library fell under the state control of the new Czechoslovakia. 1924 Slovanská knihovna ( Slavonic Library ) was established in 1929 also housed in the Clementinum and has remained an autonomous unit within the National Library.

In 1935, the Library in Národní knihovna was a Univerzitní ( National and University Library ) renamed at the same time the law on legal deposit was adopted. After 1939, after the occupation by the Wehrmacht, the Czech universities were closed, the library remained under the name Zemská a Univerzitní knihovna ( State and University Library ) to 1941 in operation. 1958 were several libraries in Prague to a large Státní knihovna Czechoslovakia (National Library of the Czechoslovak Republic ). 1990 finally received its present name Národní knihovna ( National Library ).

The library is recorded in the electronic catalog and can be viewed.