A Prague library turns the page on overtourism – with hospitality

It’s rare these days to see a line stretching outside a public library. Yet in Prague’s historic center, it’s become an everyday sight.

These visitors aren’t there for the books; they come to peer into Slovak artist Matej Krén’s installation, Idiom (also known as The Column of Knowledge), a tower of 8,000 books capped with mirrors that create an infinite, hypnotic reflection.

The sculpture, located in the library’s foyer since 1998, has become a viral sensation in recent years. On busy days, tourists can wait up to an hour to get a glimpse inside the mirrored depths.

For students and patrons using the library’s 220 study carrels, however, the Idiom queue has become a source of frustration. During peak season, thousands of visitors a day can crowd the lobby, often blocking access for cardholders and requiring staff to intervene.

In a New Year’s press briefing, spokeswoman Lenka Hanzlíková announced that the library is creating a dedicated area for these visitors inside, a compromise that makes the tourist experience smoother while ensuring that the library remains functional for those who come to read and study.

Since late 2025, the Municipal Library has implemented additional changes to accommodate increased tourist inflows, including extended unstaffed hours on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hanzlíková notes that these changes have helped spread out weekend visitors and made the library accessible seven days a week.

The library has even published a microsite devoted to visiting the sculpture, which will be updated this year, to encourage visitors who just want photos to come after 6 p.m., when tour groups thin out and the foyer lighting enhances the mirrored tunnel.

But perhaps the biggest change ahead is a redesign of the foyer. Previously, librarians had to cordon off one entrance and the central staircase to separate the Idiom gawkers from other visitors; in 2026 dedicated indoor seating and refreshments will be available to those in the queue.

While many historic cities have responded to overtourism with punitive measures (in 2026 Venice has expanded its EUR 5–10 access fee to 60 days while Florence, recently moved to ban outdoor dining to clear congested UNESCO zones) the Prague Municipal Library is testing a more empathetic model.

The library’s hospitality stands in contrast to the nearby City Hall on Mariánské náměstí whose legendary paternoster lift was moved behind a literal and financial barrier in May 2024.

After viral fame led to mechanical damage and tourists wandering into offices, a ride now costs CZK 250 as part of a guided “Paternoster Tour” operated by Prague City Tourism.

In 2026, the Idiom sculpture appears poised to become a case study in how cities and public institutions can adapt to the TikTokification of heritage sites, potentially even attracting tourists to lesser-known wonders.

“The library is a work of art in itself. Just look around the entrance hall and see Sejpka's stained glass windows, and in the central hall, there is a beautifully painted ceiling designed by František Kysela,” Hanzlíková said in a 2022 interview.