National and University Library of Slovenia

Coordinates: 46°2′49″N 14°30′14″E / 46.04694°N 14.50389°E / 46.04694; 14.50389
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National and University Library of Slovenia
NUK - Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica
View from Ljubljana Castle
Map
46°2′49″N 14°30′14″E / 46.04694°N 14.50389°E / 46.04694; 14.50389
LocationLjubljana, Slovenia
TypeNational library, academic library
Established1774 (250 years ago) (1774)
Collection
Size2,749,593 volumes[1]
Access and use
Members10,931[1]
Other information
Budget€7,479,522 (2014)[1]
DirectorViljem Leban[1]
Employees138,5[1]
Websitewww.nuk.uni-lj.si
References: [2]
Europe and North America

The National and University Library (Slovene: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, NUK), established in 1774, is one of the most important national educational and cultural institutions of Slovenia. It is located in the centre of Ljubljana, between Auersperg Street (Turjaška ulica), Gentry Street (Gosposka ulica), and Vega Street (Vegova ulica), in a building designed by the architect Jože Plečnik in the years 1930–31 and constructed between 1936 and 1941. The building is considered one of the greatest achievements by Plečnik. Since August 2021, the National and University Library has been inscribed as part of Plečnik's legacy on the UNESCO World Heritage List.[3]

In 2011, the library kept about 1,307,000 books, 8,700 manuscripts, and numerous other text, visual and multimedia resources,[4] and was (in 2010) subscribed to 7900 periodicals.[5] Books and other resources are kept at storehouses at Auersperg Street (Turjaška ulica) and at Leskošek Street (Leskoškova cesta). According to the Mandatory Publications Copy Act, issuers are bound to submit a copy of each publication they publish to the National and University Library. There have been significant problems with a lack of space and a new modern building has been planned to be built in the vicinity.

History

Around 1774, after the

Illyrian provinces. In 1919, it was named State Reference Library and started to collect legal deposit copies from the entire Slovenia of the time. In the same year, the University of Ljubljana (the first Slovenian university) was established and the library served its needs too. In 1921, it started to acquire legal deposit copies from the entire Yugoslavia. It was named University Library in 1938.[6]

Architecture

Early phases of construction of the library building (1937)
Reading room

Since 1791, the library was located in the building of Ljubljana lyceum. In 1919, additional space was provisionally dedicated to it in the building of the Poljane Grammar School. In 1930–31, plans for a new building were created by Jože Plečnik. Initially the project encountered resistance by the Yugoslavian authorities based in Belgrade. However, persistent student protests and demonstrations have been effective,[7] and the new building was erected between 1936 and 1941 by the company of the constructor Matko Curk.[8]

The library building is the most monumental of Plečnik's works in Slovenia. In its size and form, it models the former

palazzo, similar to the house of the Italian architect Federico Zuccari. The handles of the main door end with a little head of Pegasus. The symbiosis of the fragile glass and massive walls in other parts of exterior is entirely original. The side walls are oriented towards Gentry Street and Vega Street. The side entrance from Gentry Street is decorated with a sculpture of Moses, created by Lojze Dolinar
.

The interior comprises four wings and the central hallway. Light comes to the main entrance through windows in the main reading room, which is at the top of the main staircase, oriented crosswise. This symbolises the central thought of the building's architecture, "From the twilight of ignorance to the light of knowledge and enlightenment". The staircase and its 32 columns are built of the dark Podpeč marble, actually limestone. In addition, there is a small staircase with landings in the form of balconies in each of the four corner of the building. The main reading room, modelled after the industrial aesthetics of the 19th century, is decorated with large chandeliers. It has two glass walls at each side, divided in two symmetric parts by a column and forming part of the side walls of the building. There are wooden tables and chairs. The equipment in main spaces of the building is scarce. The cellar was renovated in 2000 by Marko Mušič, when the building was also additionally protected against earthquakes.

The library was depicted on the reverse of the 500 tolar banknote, issued in 1992 by the Bank of Slovenia.

Expansion

A construction of new building of the National and University Library, named NUK II, has been planned since 1987.

digital era, and archaeological remains in the area will be integrated in the overall composition. As of May 2012, the date of the beginning of construction and the expected costs were not yet known.[11] The site has been used as a provisional parking lot.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Letno poročilo 2014 [Annual Report 2014] (PDF) (in Slovenian). National and University Library of Slovenia. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ NUK: Annual Report 2014 Archived 2015-05-19 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 18 May 2015
  3. ^ "Plečnik's works added to the UNESCO World Heritage List". Government of Slovenia. 2 August 2021.
  4. ^ Poslovno poročilo 2011 [Business Report 2011] (PDF) (in Slovenian). National and University Library of Slovenia. 28 February 2012. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014.
  5. ISSN 1581-5536
    .
  6. ^ Savnik, Mojca; Balažic, Dare; Cerkvenik, Žiga. "History & Collections - National and University Library of Slovenia". The European Library. Koninklijke Bibliotheek.
  7. ^ NUK: History Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 5 October 2010
  8. ISBN 961-6017-78-0
    .
  9. ^
    ISSN 1854-6544
    .
  10. ^ a b c Brkić, Vanja (9 May 2012). "Namesto parkirišča nekoč znamenitost" [A Landmark Some Day Instead of the Parking Lot]. Dnevnik (in Slovenian).
  11. ^
    ISSN 1854-6544
    .
  12. ^ "Znani rezultati javnega arhitekturnega natečaja za narodno in univerzitetno knjižnico NUK II" [Results of the Architectural Competition for the National and University Library NUK II Known] (PDF) (in Slovenian). 7 May 2012.

Further reading

  • Gooding, Mel: National and University Library, Ljubljana, Architecture in Detail Series,
    ISBN 0-7148-2938-2

External links
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