About the Library

The Czech Institute of Egyptology Library – the Jaroslav Černý Library – was founded in 1925. František Lexa was responsible for its establishment and long-term development as part of the activities of the Egyptological Seminar of the Faculty of Arts. It is possible that some of the older prints were acquired for the library by Lexa himself at that time. 

The library was considerably enlarged by the transfer of the private Egyptological library of Jaroslav Černý after his death in 1971. The library’s collections were thus enriched by a number of important publications that were already unavailable at the time. Jaroslav Černý had systematically built up his library over a long period of time and, thanks to his extensive contacts in Egyptological circles, was able to acquire several valuable titles, including various separates, in exchange for his publications or in other forms of exchange. Over the years the library has also acquired books from the estates of other figures associated with Czech Egyptology, for example from the library of Dr. Ludmila Matiegková, a student of Lexa. 

For more information about the library and its collection, please visit the website of the Czech Institute of Egyptology. 

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