The Moravian Library is a public library with a collection covering all areas of interest supplemented by specialized holdings. It preserves a conservation and historical collection and is the second-largest library collection in the Czech Republic.
The importance of the institution is reflected in the design of its building, which is located on the corner of Hrnčířská and Kounicova streets. The architectural competition for the Moravian Library, announced in 1995, attracted considerable attention. The winning design was by the architects Tomáš Adámek and Petr Benedikt from the Prague-based ONEX studio. Construction of the library lasted from 1998 to 2001.
The library is divided into four operational sections, each clearly expressed in the building’s exterior form. The eastern part comprises two monolithic towers for storage spaces. In contrast, the southern wing features an organically curved, glass-fronted office section, while the northern wing, containing reading rooms with a capacity of 450 seats for the natural sciences, technology, and the humanities, is punctuated by large-format windows. At the centre is an open area for communication purposes and relaxation, complemented by an interior atrium and a waterfall in the entrance hall. The interior transitions from lively public spaces to quiet study areas provides a diverse experience for users Recently, the library underwent renovations, which included the addition of a new depository.
The library serves as the regional library for the South Moravian Region and since 2009 has been recognized as a research organization. Since 2016, the Moravian Library has been tasked by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic with representing the country at four international book fairs: the world’s largest book fair in Frankfurt, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the London Book Fair, and the Leipzig Book Fair.
On 1 April 2023, which marked Milan Kundera’s 94th birthday, the Milan Kundera Library was officially opened at the Moravian Library.
