Clementinum
From Prague-wiki
The Clementinum (Klementinum in Czech) is a historical complex of buildings in the Old Town of Prague. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
The history of the Klementinum dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the Middle Ages, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa.
The oldest weather recording in area of Czech lands started in Clementinum in 1775. The recording continues through the present day. The National Library was founded in 1781 and from 1782 the Klementinum was a legal deposit library.
Clementinum is a notable example of Baroque architecture and covering 20,000 square metres, it is the second largest complex of buildings in Prague after the Prague Castle. The Baroque library hall is known for its beautiful interior, including ceiling artwork by Jan Hiebl. Today the complex hosts the National, University and Technical libraries. The City Library is also located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí.
For several years before 2006, there was an on-going debate on the possibilities of expanding the space for future library collections, as the room in the current Clementinum buildings is expected to reach its limit by 2010. On Jan 10, 2006, the Prague authorities decided to sell the city-owned property located in the area of Letná near the Prague center, to the National Library. In Spring 2006, an international architectural design competition for the new building was put up. An architect who won the competition is Jan Kaplický, but his winning was infirmed, so the Czech National Library is still waiting for its final project. The completion of the new building is anticipated in 2010.
