Celebrate with us NSK Day 2025!
21 February 2025, 12.00
On 21 February 2025, starting at 12.00, the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) will host the celebration of this year’s Library’s Day, marked in memory of the printing on 22 February 1483 of a ‘Missal by the Law of the Roman Court’ (Misal po zakonu rimskoga dvora; Missale Romanum glagolitice), the first book in the Croatian language.
NSK’s logotype, the letter of the angular Glagolitic alphabet Iže, i.e. the transliterated Latin letter ‘I’, has been taken over precisely from this historic missal, the oldest incunabulum in the Croatian language and the first book in Europe not printed in the Latin script, the date of whose publication since 2019 has also been celebrated as the Croatian Glagolitic Script Day.
Proudly marking NSK’s 418 years as the treasure chest of Croatia’s cultural heritage
Apart from holding the 1483 missal’s two original copies as one the greatest treasures of its Manuscripts and Old Books Collection, the National and University Library in Zagreb makes this gem of Croatian cultural heritage widely available on its Croatian Glagolitic Heritage website (Glagoljica.hr), along with other works of the Croatian Glagolitic tradition.
The Day’s programme will also be a celebration of the 418th anniversary of NSK’s existence and its work as Croatia’s major cultural, research and educational institution acting as the Croatian national library, the central library of the University of Zagreb and the guardian of Croatia’s written heritage.
Spotlighting the achievements of the NSK staff and the contribution of longstanding and prominent library professionals to the development of the library profession in Croatia, the Day will also include the National and University Library in Zagreb Awards ceremony.
Also, in her traditional address, the NSK Director General Dr Ivanka Stričević will give an overview of the Library’s work in the past year, one of whose results was the purchase of Antiphonarium Romanum, an invaluable 1725 codex with an antiphonary, a major acquisition to the NSK Manuscripts and Old Books Collection which the visitors will have a rare opportunity to see as part of the celebration programme.
The celebration will also include a performance by LADO, Croatia’s world-famous folk dance ensemble which in 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of its successful work.
NSK once again opening (all) its doors to the public
Ushering in the 2025 NSK Day celebration will be NSK Doors Open Days, the Library’s traditional programme during which the general public will again have the opportunity to make special guided tours of the Library, learn more about its collections and activities, and take part in special presentational programmes.
NSK Doors Open Days dates will soon be announced, so keep following our website!