The exhibition in the Slovak National Library maps its history, development and collections from the 19th century to the present days. Visitors can look at it until the end of September.

The first part of the exhibition is about the people who built up the collections of the Slovak National Library in the past centuries. These were small and large donors who cared that Slovaks would have their own national library. They donated their personal book collections to the institution „that would turn into the national library“.

We have not forgotten the collection building of the Matica slovenská, the National House, the library of the Slovak Museum Society or the Federal Slovak National Library. Its collections were growing very quickly. In 1938, it was clear, that a new building had to be built, where all the collections would find a suitable and safe place.

The second part of the exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the new building of the Slovak National Library. At that time, it was one of the most modern buildings in former Czechoslovakia – ultra-modern and decorated with many artworks.

The third part of the exhibition presents memories of 25 years since it became an independent institution (in 2000). The exhibition shows how long this idea took to develop and how difficult it was to implement. It was a difficult and demanding struggle involving Matica slovenská and the public. But time has shown that it was the right decision.

The exhibition panels present many successful international projects, exhibitions and achievements that the Slovak National Library can proudly present. Among its most notable achievements is the construction of a modern preservation and digitisation centre, where almost two million documents have been preserved and digitised since 2015.