University Library in Bratislava

The University Library in Bratislava ranks among the oldest and most visited research libraries in Slovakia. It was established in 1919 as the library of Comenius University in Bratislava with collections dating back to the 17th century. In parallel to its academic purpose it also served as the national library until 1954. Thereafter it became an independent, universal, research library serving the general public nationwide. The name University Library has remained because it speaks of its history and the universal character of its collections, as well as its user background.

The library has established crucial international partnerships and has become a member of international library associations such as the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the Association of European Research Libraries (LIBER) and the International Association of Music Libraries (IAML).

Over the years the University Library has been transformed from a classical library to a modern institution which provides complex library and information services to meet users’ needs. Its mission is carried out through library, bibliographic, informational, research, publishing, cultural and educational activities, and it functions as: (i) conservation and depository library of the Slovak Republic; (ii) depository library with responsibility for bibliographic registration of dissertations certified in the Slovak Republic; (iii) United Nations and UNESCO depository library; (iv) NATO depository library; (v) office of Slovak national retrospective bibliography; (vi) administrator of the Slovak union catalogue of periodicals; (vii) national agency for international serial (ISSN) identification; (viii) headquarters of the domestic and international interlibrary loans services; and (ix) conservator and restorer of documents.

The main goal of the University Library is to serve the general public as well as safeguard the Slovak cultural heritage and vast documentary wealth for future generations. Its Basagic Collection of Islamic Manuscripts, one of the most precious items in its holdings, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List ‘Memory of the World’.