- National
- Czech & Slovak
- Museum & Library
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Library Collection
- Welcome to the NCSML Library!
- Make us your first stop with your questions about Czech or Slovak history and culture. Whether you are a scholar, student, or someone wanting to learn more about your Czech or Slovak heritage, we encourage you to use our resources to help foster a better understanding of Czech and Slovak history and culture.
Online catalog
We encourage you to explore the library collection via Komensky, which contains more than 9,000 catalog records. Researchers should note that we have a large backlog of items to be cataloged, so your search results should not be considered comprehensive. The library is a member of the the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), an international cataloging cooperative, and our holdings also appear in OCLC's WorldCat.
Visiting the Library
The library is located in the main museum building at 30 - 16th Avenue SW. Appointments to use the library are highly encouraged, though we try our best to serve walk-in researchers without appointments. To schedule an appointment, contact David Muhlena, Library Director, at 319-362-8500 or dmuhlena@ncsml.org.
Library Hours
- May 1 – October 31
- Monday – Friday: 9:30 – 4:00
- Closed Saturday and Sunday and all major holidays
- November 1 – April 30
- Tuesday – Friday: 9:30 – 4:00
- Monday: Open by appointment only
- Closed Saturday and Sunday and all major holidays
Vision Statement
To be the premier American research library and archives providing information resources about Czech and Slovak history and culture.
Mission Statement
The Library of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) is a research library and archives serving the information needs of the NCSML, the international scholarly community and the general public. By collecting, preserving and making available published and unpublished resources by and about the Czech and Slovak peoples, the Library strives to advance the understanding of their history and culture and the impact they have had on the economic, political, and cultural development of America and the world.
To achieve its mission, the NCSML Library will endeavor to:
- Expand its library and archival collections with both contemporary and historical resources,
- Provide appropriate facilities to meet the needs of its users and programming,
- Offer professional assistance to researchers and general library users,
- Conform to professional standards of collection storage and management,
- Use information technology to extend access to the collections,
- Exhibit and publish from the collections,
- Grant research fellowships,
- Sponsor intellectual gatherings,
- Participate in the Czech and Slovak scholarly community,
- Cooperate with Czech, Slovak and American institutions with similar missions, and
- Ensure the financial viability of the Library and its programs.
Holdings and Scope of the Library Collections
The library is home to more than 30,000 items in various formats. It is a multi-language collection with most items in English, Czech or Slovak.
The library collection covers a broad spectrum of subjects including:
- political and local history
- literature and poetry
- folk and fine art
- music (both sheet and recorded)
- genealogy (see also http://www.ncsml.org/research/genealogy.htm)
Book and periodical collections include:
- English-language materials on a variety of subjects (more than 1,600 books and 100 periodicals currently cataloged and searchable in online catalog; new acquisitions are regularly added to catalog)
- Books written in Czech or Slovak languages (more than 5,600 currently cataloged; significant number awaiting cataloging)
- Periodicals pertaining to Czech and Slovak subjects written in English, Czech or Slovak, published both in the United States and abroad (approximately 400 separate titles; 180 currently cataloged and searchable in the online catalog)
- Newsletters and journals published by the various Czech and Slovak cultural organizations that are active throughout the United States (approximately 100 such publications are currently received; all cataloged and searchable in the online catalog)
Significant archival collections include:
- Kralice Bible, Volume 4, 1587.
- Czech-language hymnal: Piesne Chwal Bozských. Pisne Duchovnj Ewangelistske. 1561.
- Czechoslovak National Council of America organizational archives – consists of meeting minutes; correspondence; documents about the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia; Communist violations of human rights; CNCA files on other Czech and Slovak organizations; CNCA Czech-language publication Vestník (1956-2001); CNCA Czech-language press releases (1940-1944); CNCA English-language publication News Flashes From Czechoslovakia Under Nazi Domination (1939-August 30, 1943); CNCA English-language publication American Bulletin (1957-2002); and files concerning the various CNCA chapters across the United States. 12 linear feet.
- Lyra Society Collection – sheet music for more than 760 Czech popular and folk songs. 27 linear feet.
- Brass band music folios – 2 sets with various instrumental parts.
- Pospishil Letters – set of 40 letters written by John Pospishil while fighting for the Union during the American Civil War. .5 linear feet
- Burian Collection – items collected by Ludvik Burian, a Czech immigrant to America who served as a relief worker for the YMCA in Bratislava during and after the First World War. Materials include wreckage from Milan Stefanik’s fatal plane crash; lantern slides featuring Czechoslovak Legions, Slovak folk life (378 total); memorial scrapbook; photo-postcards of Czechoslovak Legions, newspapers published by Czechoslovak Legions in Russia. 4 linear feet.
- Local photographs – photos that document the Czech experience in Cedar Rapids. 4 linear feet.
- Newsletters and journals published by the various Czech and Slovak cultural organizations that are active throughout the United States (approximately 100 such publications are currently received). 14 linear feet
- Postcards featuring places in Czech and Slovak lands, famous events in Czech and Slovak history (including photo-postcards of Czechoslovak Legions). 2 linear feet
- Stamps from the Czech and Slovakia lands. 3 linear feet
- Recorded sound archive featuring well over 1,200 78-rpm records featuring popular music (mainly polkas, waltzes, and marches) recorded from the 1910s to the 1950s (20 linear feet), and nearly 800 33-rpm LP records of popular and classical music recorded from the 1950s through the 1980s (16 linear feet).
- Cedar Rapids oral histories – videotaped oral histories of Czech-Americans from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 30 videotapes.
- Czech religious broadcasts, circa 1950-1980 (125 open reels).
- Player piano rolls of Czech music (85 rolls).
- Miscellaneous archival materials, i.e. immigration paperwork, theatre programs, memorial books, etc. 6 linear feet.
Digital archival collections:
- Pospishil Civil War letters - set of 40 letters written by John Pospishil while fighting for the Union during the American Civil War.
Audio-visual equipment available:
- TV monitor and VCR with ability to play VHS tapes in NTSC and PAL formats
- Audio system with CD player/recorder, reel-to-reel tape player, and phonograph with ability to play 33RPM, 45RPM and 78RPM records
Research Services
The librarian and library volunteers are ready to assist you with your research needs. While appointments are highly encouraged, we do serve walk-in researchers. We also answer written inquiries made via e-mail or letter (e-mail requests for information will get quicker responses). To schedule an appointment or to make an e-mail inquiry, contact David Muhlena, Library Director, at 319-362-8500 or dmuhlena@ncsml.org.
Because of the complexity of family histories and genealogical searches, the librarian and library volunteers are unable to perform the substantive research required to construct your family history. However, we can assist you in identifying relevant sources in the library and can direct you to other organizations outside the NCSML that might provide additional information. We also can assist you with questions relating to spellings of surnames and place names. For more information about Czech and Slovak genealogy, please refer to http://www.ncsml.org/research/genealogy.htm.
Finally, we regret we cannot provide translation or interpretation services. For a list of translators and/or interpreters of the Czech language, please refer to the Czech Embassy at http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?id=32153&ido=15840&idj=2&amb=87. For a list of translators and/or interpreters of the Slovak language, please refer to the Slovak Embassy at http://www.slovakembassy-us.org/#
Using the Library
We want you to use the unique materials held by the library. We also want you to abide by a few rules, too:
- Library materials are used only in the reading room of the library
- Visitors may bring notebooks, papers, and/or laptop computers into the library.
- Only pencils may be used to take notes
- To prevent theft, library staff may request to examine visitors' personal articles when they exit the library
- When appropriate, researchers should give the NCSML credit for materials that lead to published documents or public lectures
- Circulation and Interlibrary Loan
- The library is set up primarily to support research on site. Consequently, we do not loan materials through interlibrary loan networks. However, in special circumstances, library materials may be loaned to other institutions for exhibition, educational or scholarly purposes. Loans of this nature must follow the procedures for outgoing loan requests. Library materials loaned for educational or scholarly purposes may be used only in the reading room of the borrowing institution and may not circulate. The NCSML reserves the right to impose other restrictions on the use of loaned library materials, as the condition of the materials dictate. Contact the librarian for more information about this option.
Fee Services
- Library use fees
- There are no admission fees to use the library or for research assistance. However, library users are encouraged to become members of the NCSML as a way of supporting library services and collection development. For information about becoming a member of the NCSML, go here.
- Photocopies
- Photocopies cost twenty cents ($.20) per page. The librarian may place restriction on photocopying certain items due to their condition.
- Photographic reproductions
- Requests to make photographic reproductions of materials (negatives, slides, digital scans and prints) owned by the NCSML should be directed to library staff. The usage and reproduction fees for various formats are noted below:
- Usage fees
- All orders are charged a use fee per image, per use. Fees are determined by the intended use of your project.
- Personal use:
- $10 per image
- Publications (includes CD-ROM and Internet use):
- Non-profit organizations (order must be accompanied by copy of 501(c)3 form): $10
- For-profit or commercial use: $30
- Exhibition or media use:
- Non-profit organizations (order must be accompanied by copy of 501(c)3 form): $10
- For-profit or commercial use: $30
- Scanned images
- Default scan (300 dpi jpeg):
- $10 per scanned image
- Custom scan (higher than 300 dpi):
- $15 per scanned image
- CD fee: $2.00
- Photo lab work
- Slides and prints from negatives or transparencies must be done off site by a commercial studio. If a negative must be made for photographic reproductions, a 4" x 5" copy negative must be made off site by a commercial studio (copy negatives become the property of the NCSML). $15 per order plus commercial lab fees (lab fees are available on request)..
- Postage and handling
- $5.00 minimum for orders sent by mail.
- Credit line
- The NCSML also requires a credit line in association with the image or elsewhere in the publication, exhibition or film credits. Please use the institution's full name - National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library - in the credit line.
Donating Materials
The library is always seeking books, periodicals, sheet music, recorded music and archival materials pertaining to Czech and Slovak history and culture. If you would like to donate library materials relating to Czech and Slovak history and culture to the library, please contact David Muhlena, Library Director, at 319-362-8500 or dmuhlena@ncsml.org. All donations are tax deductible, but the donor is responsible for any appraisals.
To determine whether an item you want to donate is already in the library collection, we encourage you to search the NCSML's online catalog, Komensky. Please note we do not accept materials in poor condition or works from other languages translated into Czech or Slovak.
For more information about the donation process, go to the page Donating Artifacts and Library Materials.
Volunteer and Internship Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities are available in the library for individuals living in the Cedar Rapids area. Volunteers can assist by helping visitors with their research needs, describing incoming donations, sorting and arranging materials, creating finding aids for archival materials, or by assisting NCSML staff with research projects. Internships are available as well. For more information, contact David Muhlena, Library Director, at 319-362-8500 or dmuhlena@ncsml.org.
- For more information about the library and library services, contact
- David Muhlena, Library Director, at 319-362-8500 or dmuhlena@ncsml.org
- The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
- 30 - 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5904
- Phone: 319-362-8500 · Fax: 319-363-2209
- This page was updated January 03, 2007