National Library in the Czech Republic. Czech National Technical Library
Of the many articles about libraries around the world, I chose this one because it contains PLANS for building some of them, and I could not find information that these wonderful plans were realized. Don't know. And I really want to know. Therefore, if you know, if you have seen it, please tell us!
Amazing thing! Despite the Internet in every home and tens of millions of e-books sold around the world every year, there are still people who go to the library!
Moreover, more and more library buildings are being built for these retrogrades, some of which become real masterpieces of architecture!
1. Library Resort
Some people, even on vacation, cannot part with books. It is for them that a hotel called The Library Resort, recently opened in Thailand, was created. Its main feature is a decent library, built right next to the pool. You lie on a sun lounger under the palm trees, read a book, and from time to time you get up to pick up a new book or swim in the warm water. Beauty! 
2. Bookshelf
When you first see the Kansas Public Library in a photo, you wouldn't immediately be able to tell that it's a building. The facade, known as the Bookshelf, consists of 8-meter spines. They cover one of the walls of the library. There are 22 “books” in total. They have been selected to reflect a wide range of reading backgrounds. Kansas readers were asked to choose the books they wanted to see as front covers. 
3. Library-sink
But the National Library of Kazakhstan, currently under construction in the capital of this state - Astana, looks more like a flying saucer or the shell of some sea mollusk. The choice of the building's shape is, of course, not accidental. Indeed, in this option, the sun will be able to illuminate the rooms inside the library as long and brightly as possible. 
4. Library in the metro
Many residents of the largest megacities on Earth spend a huge amount of time underground every day, in the subway. And one of the best ways to kill time there is reading. It is for such underground book lovers that there is a library in the New York subway at the 50th street station, where you can find a book to read on the way to work and home. 
5. Infinite library
The Stockholm Public Library project, designed by architect Olivier Charles, involves creating an “endless” wall of books. In the central atrium of this library there will be a huge wall with shelves filled with books. Visitors will be able to walk through the galleries installed along this wall and take the books they need or like. And to increase the infinity effect, mirrors will be installed on the sides of this wall. 
6. Library in the form of huge boulders
The public library is located in Santo Domingo, Colombia. The architectural design of the master Giancarlo Mazzanti is truly impressive at first glance. At first it seems that these are just three huge boulders. The building is deliberately located on the top of a hill, among vegetation, which gives it a more natural outline. 
7. Beer crate library
Beer and books usually have little in common. Unless, of course, this is a book with jokes about beer. But in one of the districts of Magdeburg they created a public street library, built from old beer crates. 
8. Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen
This library is the national library of Denmark and is the largest library in Scandinavia. The storage facilities of this library contain a huge number of historically valuable publications: there are all copies of books printed in Denmark since the 17th century. There is even the first book printed in Denmark back in 1482. More details about this library here http://bigpicture.ru/?p=184661 
9. Book Mountain
It’s not for nothing that a large book is called a “block.” In the Dutch town of Spijkenisse they are planning to build a library in the form of a mountain consisting of just such “blocks”. 
10. Figvam
In general, in Holland, unusual libraries seem to be very popular. Let me introduce you to one more of them. It is located in the city of Delft, and no longer looks like a mountain, like the library from Spijkenisse, but like a fig, beloved by the characters of the cartoon “Three from Prostokvashino”. 
11. National Library of Belarus
The new building of the National Library of the Republic of Belarus, which opened its doors in June 2006, was named one of the most amazing and ugliest buildings in the world. The unusualness of the building lies in its original shape, which is a complex geometric figure - a rhombicuboctahedron (a three-dimensional figure of 18 squares and 18 triangles). In addition, the library is covered with a special finish - color LEDs, thanks to which the colors and patterns on the building change every second at night. 
12. Bishan Public Library
The Bishan Public Library is located in Singapore. The library looks stylish and modern not only from the outside, but also from the inside. There are specially designated places for discussing thoughts about a particular book read. These rooms are decorated with colorful, bright colored glass, which creates a pleasant atmosphere and makes the interior glow with all the colors of the rainbow. The roof is also glass, which increases the flow of light into the building and illuminates it from the inside. 
13. New National Library of the Czech Republic
The library is due to open in 2011 and will be one of the most modern libraries in the world. The architectural ensemble of this building consists of three objects of a shape that allows minimizing the volume and increasing the view of the trees surrounding the building.
) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University (Czech "České vysoké učení technické v Praze", abbr. "ČVUT"), describing the library of this modern technical university in Central Europe, founded in 1707.
The new library was built just a few years ago and is located in Prague, on the main campus of Tech. university.
After the opening, all technical libraries located in Prague began to move into the library, which received the name “National Technical Library” (Czech: “Národní technická knihovna”, abbr. “NTK”). Now the libraries of various technical faculties are scattered. The universities are located in one place, at the Dejvická metro station.
In addition, they are constantly updated with very modern and expensive literature in various languages of the world. There is no need to purchase expensive rare literature - you can get it here practically for free (a six-month subscription costs 50 Czech crowns, i.e. 80 rubles).
The photo shows an example of an original NTK card, although in reality many people use university student cards, ISIC, city travel cards or In-Karta railway cards. The main thing is that there is an RFID tag inside the card; appearance does not play a role in registration.
The terminal will indicate the exact location of the book on a particular stand on one of the 6 above-ground floors.
It is possible that the required book is unpopular or rare and is located in one of the underground storage facilities - then it should be ordered in advance through the terminal or website. You can also order literature from a huge list of libraries in Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Spain, etc. As far as I understand, no additional payments are charged.
To take a book home, you should take it to a special terminal with a glass shelf, insert your membership card with a chip, and then the book. The machine will issue a receipt with information about the book, the date it was received and the required return period. Books are issued, as a rule, for 4 weeks - after which it can be extended or you can pay a daily fine of 1-2 crowns (2-3 rubles).
Returning books is much more interesting. There are windows for receiving books in several places at the entrance to the library. To return a book, you just need to place it in this window.
Then the cunning machine will close its belly, read the identification code from the chip and swallow the book. The book will be debited from your subscription and proceed along the conveyor to a sorting machine, which sorts the books into the correct departments for delivery by staff. The book collection windows are positioned very cleverly, with many of the windows allowing books to drop into just a few places so staff don't have to collect books from all over the building.
Issuing and receiving literature is as convenient as possible for both employees and visitors. But, of course, the most interesting part of such a modern library is the reading rooms. Everything here is created for the most comfortable pastime. Firstly, there is free high-speed WiFi everywhere (you need a reader's number and password for access). Of course, and sockets for laptops. Accordingly, there are a lot of people with laptops here.
WiFi covers not only all buildings and libraries, but simply the entire campus - you can lie on the lawn outside and enjoy high-speed access.
Secondly, on each floor there is a buffet with coffee and chocolate-cookie-baguette machines. In the Czech Republic, baguettes are very common among students - a long roll with various fillings. It’s hard to call a baguette a hamburger or a sandwich – I don’t know of any analogues in Russia. A baguette costs 30-50 CZK (48-80 rubles). In the NTK vending machine it costs the minimum price, 28-30 CZK. Coffee and tea - also at a minimum price, no more than 8-10 crowns (15 rubles). Prices inside universities are noticeably lower than even in supermarkets - as far as I know, the Czech government and universities compensate part of the cost, taking care of students’ pockets (although higher education in Czech in all state universities is free, paid only in English). By the way, a full hearty lunch (first course, second course, compote) in the university canteen costs approximately 50 crowns (80 rubles).
Thirdly, in the warm season you can go out on the 6th floor to one of the open terraces for fresh air. They are open now, but there are no people willing to sit at 10-15 degrees Celsius.
Moreover, the terraces fit harmoniously into the interior of the 6th floor and create additional lighting.
NTK has 29 individual classrooms (including 2 for the disabled and 2 for the visually impaired), 18 general reading rooms and 1 automated night reading room on the 1st floor (for a separate entrance from the street, just attach a library card). Like other public places, everything is equipped for access to the library by disabled people. Everything is done for people.
Design is a separate issue. The outside is glass:
Inside - concrete:
The librarian even noted that the construction of the library has already been completed and that there is no need to think that anything will change. I really like how all excursions are conducted in the Czech Republic - instead of the Russian “Don’t go here”, “Don’t take pictures”, “Don’t touch anything”, everything on the contrary asks you to touch, look, try.
The interiors of the library are original - cables and ventilation ducts are laid outside, and the concrete is not painted anywhere. But it all looks harmonious. The paintings on the walls were made by a Romanian artist named Dan Perjovschiho. Very extravagant, I must say, drawings.
You can move around the library on foot using the stairs:
By the way, everywhere on the steps the number of calories spent on climbing up to it from the first floor is indicated:
The width and height of objects are marked everywhere. The facade of the building indicates its perimeter and height. Individual elements are also marked inside - the width of the step, for example:
In order not to burn calories on the stairs between 9 floors, there are 4 modern, convenient elevators.
In general, there is everything, everything, everything - even a car parking for 300 spaces (underground, as I understand it), a bicycle parking for 200. Applicants walked around the building in admiration with their mouths open: “Wow! I want to study at ČVUT!”
The bus travels 10 minutes from early morning until 1 am, and the newest building provides all the opportunities for a comfortable pastime and study throughout the day.
Registration
Registration is carried out on the 1st floor of the library (Czech. Zakaznicke centrum), an annual subscription costs 50 CZK. Identification is carried out using contactless RFID tags, so to register in the library you must either already have a contactless card (, In-Karta, Opencard) or pay 200 CZK for the production of your own NTK card. I recommend that immediately after manufacturing the ISIC ChVUT you go to NTK and register, because With quality training, the library will inevitably have to be used; NTK is the main collection of technical literature in the Czech Republic.
Internet, computers
There are several WiFi networks throughout the building (including the international academic network), and there are sockets everywhere for connecting to the power grid and for connecting to ethernet. When registering at the library, the reader sets a login and password for http authorization in the NTK-Simple WiFi network and can use high-speed Internet without restrictions, even without being a student of a particular university. The connection quality is excellent, the only disappointment is that torrents are blocked.
Modern computers with Internet access are also located on many floors. Any reader, having passed the turnstiles and entered the main hall, can use them; most of them are always free; visitors prefer to use their own laptops.
Places to work during the day, weekdays
During the library’s working hours, its main hall is accessible for entry, in which 1.5 million copies of books, magazines, and manuscripts are located on 9 floors.
Shelves alternate with tables where you can read a book or surf the Internet.
The top floor has glassed-in open-air verandas for outdoor work.
Also, during the daytime you can go into the library, even just for a couple of minutes, without going through the turnstiles - get an email. mail, for example. For this purpose, there are enough sofas and ottomans in the hall, however, el. There are no sockets.
Night hall
When the main hall of the library is closed, the night reading room is open. It can be entered from the street using a contactless library card. We apply the card to the reader and find ourselves in a classroom with rows of tables with built-in sockets for power and Ethernet. WiFi is also available and everyone uses it rather than cable internet.
The hall is popular, even at 2-3 am people are studying, some are just surfing the Internet.
Czech education is popular abroad (in universities, up to 30% of students are foreigners, with no more than a third of them coming from the CIS), so there are a lot of foreigners in the library. You can often see a teacher explaining something to a student in the middle of the night in English, French, or German.
Many visitors use literature in foreign languages. Physics, chemistry, medicine (CTU has bioengineering and bioinformatics).
In fact, for a nominal fee of 50 CZK/year you can get a great internet cafe. 😉
Obtaining literature
To search for the required book, use the library website (www.techlib.cz) or one of the many information terminals in the NTK building. Foreigners (that is, us) can borrow literature in Czech as usual, but to obtain literature in foreign languages, a deposit must be paid at the information desk on the 1st floor.
As a result, you will know the location of the book (Czech. Umistěni) in the form, for example, “4.NP, regál 4D/103”, where “4.NP” denotes the library floor, “4D” a section, and “103” a shelving.
We go up the stairs or by elevator to the desired floor and follow the section signs.
We insert your reader, the machine will provide information about your account. Then we place each book one by one on the shelf of the machine. Thanks to contactless tags from each book, the machine writes them all to your account. As a rule, books are issued for a month.
Returning books
To return books, you must place them individually in the book collection machine:
Each book will be recognized, debited from your account and then put into a sorting machine:
There are very few people working in the library; everything is automated. But if you have any questions, you can contact the staff at the information desks on the 1st floor.
Literature
The library contains only literature related to technology in one way or another. The majority of books are written in Czech, but a huge number of foreign publications are also available, including recent editions.
The historical cross-section is amazing - it is not difficult to find American English-language books on technology from the late 19th century, and copies of medieval works on engineering are available.
Despite the myths about Czech Russophobia that are widespread on the Internet, the library has a lot of Russian-language literature and dictionaries.
There are even Ukrainian dictionaries available:
Nutrition
On all floors of the main floor, in the night hall there are vending machines with food and drinks.
The main advantage is that the prices for goods in the machine are significantly lower than the prices in any supermarket, and especially cafes. For example, the typical price of a baguette in the library vending machines and in general in the educational buildings of the ChTUT is 25 CZK; in supermarkets the same baguettes are sold for 35-40 CZK. Baguettes (bun-sandwich) are very popular among students, as are sandwiches.
There is nothing wrong with minding your own business, reading, sitting with a laptop and chewing at the same time. You can also cope with your natural needs in NTK with pleasure - the toilets are not inferior in quality to the restrooms of expensive restaurants, everything is clean and provided. Rumor has it that there are even changing tables in the women's restrooms.
Storage compartments
Throughout the library there are yellow metal cabinets with small compartments.
These are individual lockers. You can store things in them for free for a short time - for example, if you study in the library, you can leave a laptop, a charger for it, or office supplies.
Rental of premises
Apparently, an important source of library income is the rental of premises. The most relevant offer of this kind for students is the rental of individual study booths.
Project of the new building of the National Library
Currently, the Czech authorities are developing the issue of constructing a new building of the National Library (Humanities) with no less bold architectural forms:
At the same time, all objects are developed taking into account the preservation of the general historical appearance of the city, and this amoeba house will not be noticeable beyond the nearest hill. Currently, the National Library is housed in the old library of Charles University, Clementinum, one of the most important architectural monuments in Prague:
The National Technical Library (Narodni technicka knihovna) was founded as the library of the German Technical University, then became a single library for the Czech and German Technical Universities. Now under one roof there are (in addition to the technical library itself) the library of the University of Prague, a branch of the city public library, a bookstore and a cafe.
The huge new unusual and architecturally bold building of the National Technical Library (seven floors of glass and concrete and six more underground) was symbolically opened on 09.09.09, recognized as the best new building in Prague and is one of the main architectural landmarks of the Czech Republic. It is the most modern and equipped library in Central and Eastern Europe.
The idea of the implemented project was to create an open textbook on architecture and librarianship. The idea is immediately recognizable, because engineering communications are visible everywhere on the concrete walls, the floor is multi-colored (blue, dark blue, green, yellow, orange, red) depending on the distribution of the power load of the building (for example, the greatest load is indicated in red).
The library is high-tech, the latest equipment provides all the opportunities for comfortable studies.
The library is open to users 24 hours a day: from 10 to 24 hours the main premises, and from 24 to the morning a night reading room (with a separate entrance), which is in great demand among working students.
All technological processes and operations are automated.
There are several WiFi networks in the building (including the international academic network eduroam), and sockets for connecting to the electrical network are installed throughout.
Admission is free; you do not have to register when visiting, only if you take the stock documents home. The cost of an annual subscription for students is 50 CZK, for other categories 100 CZK (4 euros). There are many books in Russian, and publications in foreign languages are not separated into a separate collection, but are distributed throughout the entire fund. The total document resource of the library is more than 1.5 million units. storage NTK is the main collection of technical literature in the Czech Republic.
The National Library of the Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world (7 photos)
The user can order the required document from any library in the European Union and the application will be completed within two days.
The scope and user orientation of this library is amazing. Huge areas, comfortable cabinet and upholstered furniture, a large number of information kiosks and computers with Internet access.
On the top floor in the center of the building there is a glassed-in veranda where readers can work in the fresh air.
In the library, there are yellow metal cabinets with small compartments in various places. These are individual cells (chambers) in which you can store things for free for a short time. For example, you can leave a laptop, charger or stationery in the library while studying. The specially equipped booths for individual work, which students can rent for the academic semester, make a great impression (slippers left in one of the booths and photographs pasted on the wall in another look cute through the glass walls).
There are very few employees of such a large premises, only 160 people (110 library staff and 50 technical staff). This is the personnel limit provided for by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (and this library is subject to it). Cleaning of premises and security of the building is carried out by specialized companies under a contract. Many employees come to work in the library without special education, so special library courses are organized here for employees of all public libraries in the country, designed for two semesters. These courses are taught by NTK practitioners.
The most beautiful libraries in Prague
We travel with our family around Europe quite often, trying to show our children the world and take a break from everyday problems. If we can’t find a vacation in the summer, we choose a country where we can gain new knowledge and impressions. At the beginning of this spring, our choice was the Czech Republic, or rather its capital. Since the weather in March is not conducive to walking or boat trips, we decided to focus on museums and architectural attractions. The “star” of our trip was the Clementinum complex. Thanks to him, Prague was one of the world centers of Jesuit training and was known as a city of scientists.
All roads lead to Clementinum (Prague). Address and other useful information
The complex itself includes several buildings, so its exact address is rather arbitrary.
Clementinum in Prague: The most beautiful library in the world
The easiest way will be to get to the Charles Bridge, and from there go to one of the three entrances located on the streets:
- Křižovnická 190;
- Karlova 1;
- Mariánske nám. 5.
Another landmark is the Charles Bridge Museum, the Clementinum is located opposite. Prague, like any ancient city, is quite confusing, so it’s a good idea to “enter” the desired address into your smartphone’s GPS.
The most visited tourist sites are the Clementinum Library, the Chapel of Mirrors and the Astronomy Tower. However, in the Middle Ages nothing could be more majestic than religious buildings, so first we paid attention to the Church of St. Salvator, and only after that it turned out that we were there. If you don’t know what’s inside, the outside of the complex doesn’t stand out in any way among the other buildings (which are all random attractions).
The opening hours (more precisely, visits by tourists) are from 10 to 16 in the autumn-winter period; in the summer they work a couple of hours longer. Admission is paid, we bought a family ticket for 500 CZK, it’s cheaper than paying for each family member. I was surprised that tourists also come here in the evening; it turns out you can book a separate romantic tour. For 5,000 CZK you will be offered champagne, live music, a view of evening Prague, candles and other romantic crap. Yes, the Jesuits would hardly have applauded such enterprise within the walls of an educational institution.
What is Clementinum (Prague) famous for? Library and other historical values
Unofficially, the library, which is located in the Baroque book hall of the Clementinum complex, has been called the most beautiful in the world. Indeed, the interior is impressive. No photo can prepare you for the luxury and sophistication of this space. The Baroque style, in principle, is not distinguished by modesty, but there is simply a feast of colors here. There is a feeling that for some reason they placed bookshelves in the temple and filled them to capacity with ancient manuscripts. Although, if you look closely, there are few religious motifs in the painting. After all, the Clementinum is, first and foremost, a collegium, and the frescoes are dedicated to the theme of scientific research. Prague in those days was loyal to scientists, and many famous teachers were immortalized in the painting of the hall.
Unfortunately for us, the tour was held in Czech and English. While my wife and I more or less understood what we were talking about, the kids were bored. I think that after our stories about Clementinum (Prague), they imagined the library to be filled with ancient comics. While the books themselves were mentioned in passing, as I understand it, mere mortals do not have access to them (and therefore you do not need to know what Clementinum stores in its basements). Prague is such Prague, in terms of level of secrecy it will surpass the Vatican.
Some tips for those wishing to visit this Czech attraction:
- photography inside the library is prohibited, but you can take photos from the towers of the Clementinum (Prague is clearly visible from there);
- There are Russian-language booklets at the entrance to the reading room - take them with you if you are not strong in English;
- to climb the astronomy tower, you need to walk 180 steps along a spiral staircase (quite tiring);
- in the evenings there are classical music concerts here; if it weren’t for the children, we would gladly attend.
We were pleased with the excursion; the place was very interesting and atmospheric. Basically, of course, the emphasis here is on the achievements of astronomers of that time, however, it will also be interesting for those simply not indifferent to history.
Among the many wonderful sights of magnificent Prague, the most notable is the Clementinum - a Jesuit college, which is a large complex of buildings in the Baroque style. It now houses the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Clementinum is located in the Old Town (Staré Město), near the famous Charles Bridge. This large-scale complex includes a number of buildings from the 18th century, the authors of which are such famous architects as Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, Carlo Lurago, Frantisek Maximilian Kanka and other representatives of the Habsburg Baroque workshop.
The total area of the Clementinum is 20,000 square meters. In terms of size, this historical and architectural complex is second only to the Prague Castle fortress (Pražský hrad). A large Jesuit college was created in Prague in 1552 on the site of the medieval chapel of St. Clement. By the 17th century, Clementinum had become one of the largest Jesuit centers in the world. in 1622, the library of Charles University, the main university of the Czech Republic and the oldest university in Central Europe, was located here.
At one time, the Clementinum library contained mysterious manuscripts dating from 1404 and 1438 by an unknown author. They were written in an incomprehensible language, so all attempts to decipher them remain unsuccessful to this day. The mysterious illustrated codex was called the Voynich Manuscript and is now kept in the Yale University Library.
The historic building of the Clementinum houses half of the collection of the Czech Central Library. In total, the National Library of the Czech Republic contains about seven million different books, including 4,200 incunabula - copies of extremely rare books that were published in Europe before 1501 in small editions of 100-300 pieces.
The hall of the National Library in the Clementinum is designed in the Baroque style and is distinguished by the luxury and splendor traditional for those times. This is one of the most beautiful halls of the Clementinum, which is decorated with frescoes by Joseph Dibel.
The National Library of the Czech Republic is open to public access and currently has about 60 thousand registered readers. Throughout the history of its existence, the library at Clementinum has made enormous contributions in the field of translations of ancient manuscripts and texts. Since 1992, the modern library began to digitize the documents stored in it. In 2005, the library was awarded the UNESCO Memory of the World Prize for its contribution.
