Libraries preserve knowledge. This time, the Slovak National Library decided to help save lives.

On 29 April 2026, employees of the Slovak National Library participated in a blood drive called “A Drop of Blood at the SNK.” Nearly 30 volunteers—mostly library staff —donated blood, many of them for the first time.

The National Transfusion Service of the Slovak Republic organized a mobile blood drive right on the library premises. Although NTS staff regularly conduct mobile blood drives across Slovakia, this was their second visit to our library.

For many participants, this event also carried a symbolic message : every book has an end, but a single drop of blood can bring someone a new beginning.

The Slovak National Library organises numerous cultural events for the public every year. This time, however, it made room for a different form of public service and demonstrated that even a memory institution can actively contribute to health protection and community support.