The town library “ Juraj Šižgorić” is the largest and most significant library in the Šibenik Knin county. It was established on the 17 th February 1922 , and from 1970 it’s named Juraj Šižgorić after a great Croatian humanist.
The library has three departments: children’s, national, and scientific (with a periodical section and reading room). The library has 14 employers, 11 of them are highly qualified (6 qualified librarians and 5 assistants).
The library is opened to the public every weekday from 7:30 to 19:00 , from 8:00 to12:00 on Saturdays. In 2001 the library had 131 000 books and 27 000 magazines.
From 1997 everything is computerized: the library uses Crolist (Unix version) in its Oracle operative system.
The library organizes a range of different cultural programs (exhibitions, book signings, lectures, and scientific meetings), also it is involved in publishing, which promotes contemporary art and the research of Šibenik’s literature and cultural heritage. A number of titles have been published (66), among them are monographs about the Šibenik County and the cathedral, a variety of almanacs, pieces of work by linguists, inventors, philosophers, creative thinkers, and the writer-historian Faust Vrančić.
AREA LIBORIUM – the project to build a new library
The library has been functioning in a inadequate location (blue skyscraper) for decades, and finally the town library is moving to a new building (ex JNA building).This building is an anthological structure of Croatian modern architecture, it is located where the town café once was (built in 1866) , therefore the library is returning to the center of town. Thus Šibenik will acquire a strong multimedia core, which will provide a notable asset to the town’s urban and spiritual identity.
Ground floor
According to the plan, the entrance of the library is from the Poljana. Next to the entrance is the janitor’s booth, where the security, telephone, lighting and heating systems are. Opposite the janitor’s booth is an information board. In the central hall there is the main information desk, where you can get the answers to all of your questions and where you can register and charge or discharge books. In the vicinity of the info desk is the cloak-room and in its extension are restrooms that are designed for the handicapped. (Naturally the whole building is designed for the handicapped, also there is a lift.)
Left of the entrance there is a reading room and a children’s section with a playroom. In the reading room there are computers with internet access, so that citizens and tourists can check their e-mail. In view of the Children’s festival, these spaces can be used for certain activities as well as the terrace that faces the primary school “Faust Vrančić”.
Right of the entrance is a part of the children’s section with the according literature and a room for material that is based on Šibenik and its region.
1st floor
On the first floor the heart of the library is placed. In the large hall the national department and a part of the science department are placed with a study area and a referential collection. Near the main desk by the stairway is the gallery where 30 computers are placed. This disposition of contents inside the large hall enables the library to be a multimedia and study center, which will from its exterior attract citizens to visit the library and familiarize themselves with books and the virtual world of media. On the 1 st floor there is also a store room for the science department and a small auditory intended for book promotions, lectures, concerts exhibitions and etc.
2nd floor
On the 2 nd floor management is located as well as rooms for professional work and for other services.
Basement
In the basement are halls for multimedia events (music and video), annals (newspapers, magazines) and store room for miscellaneous.
Contact Information
City library “Juraj Šižgorić” Šibenik
Stjepana Radića 54,
HR- 22000 Šibenik
Tel: 022 /213 682
Fax: 022 213 931
E-mail: [email protected]