Strahov Library, Prague, CZ
Posted by: 
ToRo61
N 50° 05.167 E 014° 23.326
33U E 456272 N 5548383
Monument of National Literature
Waymark Code: WMB2B0
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 03/26/2011
Views: 123
The Royal Canonry of Premonstratensians at Strahov, which the Strahov Library is an integral part of, was founded in 1143 by Bishop of Olomouc, Jindrich Zdík.
The books collected after the Peace of Westphalia were given a dignified place of storage after 1679 in the newly constructed library hall, now known as the Theological Hall.
Because of extensive acquisitions in the second half of the 17th century and throughout the 18th century, the expanding library book collections required another hall (the Philosophical Hall) by the end of the 18th century.
The latter half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century were mainly devoted to the cataloguing of the library's book collections. After 1950, when monastic orders and congregations were forbidden in Czechoslovakia, their members executed, interned, and imprisoned, and their property confiscated, the Strahov Library was incorporated into the newly established Museum of National Literature, and the monastic archives, music collection, picture gallery, and exhibits were dispersed to other state institutions.
Soon after 1989, following the collapse of Communism in Czechoslovakia, the buildings and other confiscated property, including the library, were returned (in some cases they are still in the process of being returned) to the Strahov Premonstratensians in a programme to rectify some of the material injustice perpetrated by the Communists. The Strahov library book collections contain approximately 200,000 volumes, estimated to hold 260,000 works.
The books are stored in the two halls and in adjacent depositories. Many of the works are old prints printed between 1501 and 1800. The library's incunabula (firstprints) (over 1,500 volumes) and manuscripts (approximately 3,000 sheaves) are also valuable and are stored in a special treasury room.
Classification of Library: Special Library (Affliated Members Only)
Internet access available: No - Internet Access is not available here
Hours of Operation:
Daily 9-12:00, 13-17:00
Library Website: [Web Link]
Additional Internet Connection Options: Not listed
Approximate date of opening.: Not listed
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