It is an open institution that offers access to fiction and educational literature for children and adults.

In addition to information and research services, the library organises public events, concerts, theatre and dance performances, talks with authors, fashion shows, discussions.

There was a scrapping and liquidation of part of the collection and also a personnel action against a number of qualified workers.

Twelve new branches were opened and other specialised departments were established (e.g. a study room for pragensia).

The "People's University of Science, Technology and Art" became part of the library, engaged in educational and cultural activities, which gained the library considerable popularity in the relatively favourable climate of the time.The so-called "normalisation" of the 1970s brought again strong ideological pressure, the creation of new "libri prohibiti", a complete freeze of international cooperation and a general stagnation of the library.

The extensive and modern storage facilities allowed for the dynamic growth of the library collection.

Partial reconstructions were carried out in 1936-1937 and 1939 (architect Jan Sokol for the collection of old art), 1958, 1963 (modification of the auditorium of the large hall) and 1988-1989 (Bohumil Fantaː roofing of the courtyard).

The last reconstruction took place in 1996-1997 and the restorers tried to bring the building back to the state in which it welcomed its first readers seventy years ago.

In its windows are decorative grilles designed by Karel Štipl, and above them small tympanums with five sculptures symbolizing the branches of human labour.

On the portico there are six sculptures of allegories of art by sculptor Ladislav Kofranek on the first floor balcony.