The National and University Library, established in 1774, is one of the most important national educational and cultural institutions of Slovenia. It is located in the centre of Ljubljana, between Auersperg Street, Gentry Street, and Vega Street, in a building designed by the architect Jože Plečnik in the years 1930–31 and constructed between 1936 and 1941. The building is considered one of the greatest achievements by Plečnik. Since August 2021, the National and University Library has been inscribed as part of Plečnik's legacy on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Jože Plečnik was a Slovene architect who had a major impact on the modern architecture of Vienna, Prague and of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, most notably by designing the iconic Triple Bridge and the Slovene National and University Library building, as well as the embankments along the Ljubljanica River, the Ljubljana Central Market buildings, the Ljubljana cemetery, parks, plazas etc. His architectural imprint on Ljubljana has been compared to the impact Antoni Gaudí had on Barcelona.