UJEP Jan Evangelista Purkyne University Ústí nad Labem library building architecture design exterior view
Josef Ružička
Library Details
Basic Information
Type
University library
Year of opening
2013
Total Cost
3,928,000 EUR
Location/Address
University / Institution
UJEP Jan Evangelista Purkyně University
Address
Pasteurova 5
400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Czechia
Project Story
Main Motications and Objectives

The library is located in the centre of the city of Ústí nad Labem and its construction contributed to the regeneration and revitalization of a part of the city with a significant positive impact on the environment in its immediate vicinity.
The library serves the research and educational goals of the university and provides access to information resources to meet the needs of students, researchers and academics, university staff, the city, and the region. The main goal was to fundamentally address the information needs of users of existing faculty libraries, but also to concentrate library collections, electronic information resources, information technology, and work capacity into an institution, which will allow user-friendly and cost-effective acquisition, storage, and dissemination of information for all types of users.
Main goals and planned improvements:
– merging of faculty libraries into one unit, which will collectively provide library and information services at the J. E. Purkyně University
– self-service machines (check-in and check-out)
– university bookshop
– café
– space for education and cultural events
– access for users with specific needs

Characteristics/Description

The library is located on the university campus and is part of the Multifunctional and Educational Centre, which includes auditoriums, lecture halls, rector’s office, and a library.
The project was created on the territory of a former brownfield in the area after Masaryk Hospital Krajská zdravotní a.s. It is a new building built on top of the original building of the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies. The very body of the library provides a barrier-free route through the university campus and, together with the leveling ramp at the Faculty of Arts, enables students with special educational needs to freely move between the Rector’s offices and other faculties.
The main materials are monolithic reinforced concrete, ceramic masonry, structural steel, and atypical prefabricated material – staircase arm, filigree slab. The architect designed the interior in a combination of exposed concrete and expanded metal gratings, the floors of the free selection complement the colour of the industrial space, into which natural light shines through the copilite wall.

Publications
Awards
  • Library of the Year Award. Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic

    Awarded for its significant achievement in the field of providing public library and information services, and for merging faculty libraries into an effective whole in a modern library building.

    2013
New Project Data
Type
New building
Competition
No
Architect/s

Total Floor Area
Floor Area Open to Public
Shelving Capacity Open Stacks
2,250 linear meters
Shelving Capacity Closed Stacks
8,750 linear meters
Number of Staff
20 FTE
Total Seating Capacity
212
Group Study Rooms
3
Individual Study Rooms
1

Opening
Weekend
Additional Features
Special Rooms

Special collections/seminar rooms/exhibition space/lecture hall/café/…) The library also houses the book collection of the Austrian Library and the European Documentation and Specialized Library CEPRONIV, which focuses on supporting the practical teaching of the German language.
The library organizes educational and cultural events. The computer room hosts IT lessons and free selection hosts author readings, exhibitions, and other events.
There are also a university bookshop and a café in the library building. There are auditoriums within the Multifunctional and Educational Centre.

Special Features

Modern technology of radio frequency identification of documents, including self-service devices for check-in and check-out.
The library has 212 study places, of which 48 are with a PC. LAN / WiFi is available in the library.
Magnifying glass and two places for users with specific needs.

Additional Comments