About the Library

The Department of Archaeology Library has been systematically built up since 1905. From that time, we have also preserved the acquisitions catalogue, where we keep records of purchases and donations of books from important Czech archaeologists and anthropologists such as Prof. Lubor Niederle, Prof. Albín Stocký, Prof. Jindřich Matiegka and Dr. Aleš Hrdlička. Of course, donations also came from various institutions, museums, and associations, as well as from the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, as is recorded in the accession list. According to records that have survived, books were purchased from regular and special donations from the firm Bursík and Kohout until 1939. 

The collection also includes estates, such as part of Dr. Jindřich Wankel’s estate or the book estate of Prof. Albín Stocký, Prof. Miroslav Buchvaldek and Prof. Jiří Sláma. 

Currently, the library’s collection is being expanded mainly through regular book exchanges with more than 120 institutions from all over Europe: the former library administrator, Assoc. Prof. Lubomír Košnar has much to do with such an extensive book exchange. 

The book collection of the library of the Department of Archaeology contains more than 25,000 volumes, including all essential European journal series. 

The library has a central room with a large oval table, where various small conferences, round tables, and workshops on prehistoric and medieval technology take place. Of course, there is also a study room with 18 study places and three computers with Internet access. 

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