The Second Largest Library in Croatia

Along with the prestigious National and University Library, which also organizes cultural events, a modernly equipped library will be opened in the second half of February at the Faculty of Philosophy as the second largest library in Croatia in terms of the number of volumes.

A new academic and research library will be opened at the Faculty of Philosophy in the middle of February. This will be the second largest library in Croatia in terms of the number of volumes in its holdings, the first one being the National and University Library. The library offers a state-of-the art equipment contained in quite an impressive exterior, on six floors and with seating for 800 people, of which 200 places will be equipped with computers. In addition to the multimedia hall and computer lab, there will be a certain number of private reading rooms for scholarly work of researchers who wish to use materials from special collections. The library will be open to students and to the public alike. The Faculty of Philosophy Library holds 750,000 books including some rare examples that are not even found in the National and University Library, such as Slavic materials from the 16th and 17th centuries. The library will normally be open until 10 P.M., but can also be open all night, as needed.

The tradition of libraries in Croatia goes back to 1607 when the National and University Library was established and when the first books were recorded in its holdings. Already in 1645, the library contained a special hall, it employed librarians and had rules about the safekeeping and lending of books. Throughout history the library has been located in a number of places and shared premises with many different institutions. In 1913 it found its home in the secessionist building on Marko Marulić Square. It was housed in that building, known as the Royal University Library, a grade listed monument in its own right, until 1995 when it was relocated to a new and modern building. Today the library holding contains 2.5 million volumes, arranged on 114 kilometers of shelves, of which 66 kilometers are books and 48 kilometers are periodicals. The library also boasts some very special collections: a collection of manuscripts and rare books, graphic collections, collections of maps and atlases, and a collection of music materials and audio materials. The library's reading room can accommodate 1,100 people, with an additional 64 places in the special collections reading rooms. There are also study rooms and halls in which to hold seminars.

After the library opened its doors to students for late nigh studying, last year the National and University Library and the Zagreb Philharmonic worked together to organize night concerts.