H. Łopaciński Voivodeship Public Library at Narutowicza street number 4 is located in two post-Piarist monastery’s annexes from the XVII century, one connector building erected between 1936 and 1939, and a newer building completed in 2007.
The institution was established on the initiative of the Public Library Association after the tragic death of Hieronim Łopaciński (1860-1906) on the basis of his rich collection of books and old prints. The library’s patron was one of the most prominent and distinguished citizens of Lublin. As a teacher, ethnographer, researcher of the past, collector, linguist and bibliophile, co-author of the illustrated guidebook to Lublin (published 1901 together with Maria Ronikierowa), he was a man of unprecedented merits.
Hieronim Łopaciński was also a co-founder of the Lublin Museum (appointed in 1906). The building at Narutowicza street were the first seat of the Museum. At the beginning of the World War II Jan Matejko's famous paintings, the Battle of Grunwald and The Sermon of Piotr Skarga were brought here. Initially they were hid in the post-Piarist buildings, and later moved for safe keeping in another place of Lublin.