Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cost and Hours:
Free, staircase open Mon-Fri 8:00-20:00, Sat 9:00-14:00, closed Sun.
The quiet main reading room is officially open for visitors only during very limited hours
(mid-July-mid-Aug Mon-Sat 14:00-18:00).
Visiting the Library:
Begin by standing outside and surveying the
exterior.
On the sur-
face,thered-and-graycolorschemeevokestheredsoilandchunksofgraniteoftheKarstre-
gion, south of Ljubljana. But on a deeper level, the library's design conveys the message of
overcoming obstacles to attain knowledge. The odd-sized and -shaped blocks in the facade
represent a complex numerological pattern that suggests barriers on the path to enlighten-
ment. The sculpture on the river side is Moses—known for leading his people through 40
years of hardship to the Promised Land. On the right side of the building, find the horse-
head doorknobs—representing the winged horse Pegasus (grab hold, and he'll whisk you
away to new levels of enlightenment).
Step
inside.
The main staircase is dark and gloomy—modeled after an Egyptian tomb.
But at the top, through the door marked
Velika
Č
italnica,
is the bright, airy main reading
room: the ultimate goal, a place of learning. The top-floor windows are shaped roughly like
open books. Sadly, except for one month a year when the students are on summer break,
you can't actually enter the reading room; you'll just have to imagine young Ljubljanans
