Jiri Mahen Library, Brno

The Jiří Mahen Library in Brno is the largest public municipal library in Moravia and the second largest in the country. Established in 1921, the library is named after Jiří Mahen, a renowned local poet and dramatist, who became Brno’s first librarian. The library offers an extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction literature, newspapers, magazines, audiovisual materials, and music, and provides access to the Internet and electronic databases. It is also equipped with specialized services for blind and visually impaired readers.

The library serves as an important information hub, offering resources on literature, regional authors, factual and legal documentation, as well as detailed information about Brno and its surrounding region. It also provides interlibrary loan services and maintains a focus on both state and local administration information.

Cultural programs for schools and the general public are regularly organized by the library, making it a vibrant cultural center. The library’s collection includes around 800,000 book units, with an annual growth of 25,000 to 30,000 new books. It subscribes to 270 periodicals in over 900 copies, catering to a wide range of interests.

The Jiří Mahen Library is a central library system with 33 branches spread across the city of Brno. The Mahen Memorial, located in the Masaryk district, is part of the library and hosts exhibitions about the life and work of Jiří Mahen. The memorial also specializes in regional literature and bibliography and features a library on its ground floor.

Additionally, the Europe Direct information center, located within the library, provides a wealth of resources and electronic information, further enhancing the library's role as a key public resource in Brno.