Dr. Mirko Rupel: a Scientist who founded the National and University Library of Slovenia

Abstract

AbstractProfessional tasks of Slovenian National and University Library were defined by a Slavicist and librarian dr. Mirko Rupel, who had a significant influence on the development of the library system after World War II. The article is focused on his professional work in the National and University Library. Under his supervision the Plečnik’s palace was finally reconstructed after the fire, which damaged it in 1944. He developed theoretical foundations of the basic functions of the national library, especially of the national bibliography, he organized central catalogue of foreign publications in Slovenian libraries and founded the department for library monitoring and development. He reformed the library organizational structure and implemented new library catalogues including the UDC catalogue. As to the library system, he strived for the developed library network and played an active role in the preparation and implementation of the new library legislation and formation of professional library training and education. He promoted libraries and coordinated acquisition among faculty libraries. He was a founder-member of Slovenian Library Society, its first president, and among founder-members of Association of Yugoslav Librarians and of Association of Yugoslav National Libraries. His professional work was widely recognised and in 1958 he took an active part at the UNESCO Conference on National Libraries in Vienna.