On February 27, 2026, Tomáš Foltýn, Director General of the National Library of the Czech Republic, welcomed His Excellency Nicholas Merrick, the United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, who visited the institution accompanied by his wife and the embassy’s cultural attaché.
The management of the National Library of the Czech Republic was also represented at the meeting by Tomáš Klimek and Lukáš Babka. The visit took place in a very open and stimulating atmosphere, and ultimately went well beyond the originally planned time in both scope and duration. Among the main topics discussed were the National Library’s public image, including in connection with the release of Dan Brown’s latest novel, The Secret of All Secrets, as an opportunity to promote the National Library, the Klementinum complex, and its historical collections, including those available in digitized form.
A significant part of the meeting was devoted to a presentation on the collaboration between the National Library of the Czech Republic and Microsoft, focusing primarily on the implementation of the AI Skilling Program, plans to create an inclusive information hub, and the broader context of strengthening digital competencies and innovation in the field of librarianship. It was precisely this area that sparked the ambassador’s particular interest and opened the door to further discussions about potentially deepening cooperation in the fields of education, the exchange of know-how, and strengthening collaboration with American universities. The discussion naturally turned to the project to digitize the collections of the Slavic Library and the Hoover Institution’s international initiative, the Russia Abroad Digital Collection, which supports the digitization of periodicals related to the activities of the Russian democratic émigré community, thereby contributing to the preservation and research of this significant cultural and historical heritage. Other professional and research activities of the National Library of the Czech Republic with an international scope were also presented.
The program included a tour of the Manuscripts and Rare Books Department and a visit to the Astronomical Tower. According to the guests’ feedback, it was the combination of the scholarly environment and the unique view of Prague that left a lasting impression.
