The Great Jedi Library, alternatively named the Great Library, functioned as a Jedi temple situated on the planet of Ossus. The Qel-Droma Epics recount that Jedi Master Odan-Urr both conceived and oversaw its construction as a tribute to his own Master, Ooroo. Its location was intentionally remote, set far from both the Knossa Spaceport and Ossus City. In addition to typical datacards, the Great Library housed holocrons, distinctive polyhedral devices capable of storing vast quantities of information. This repository of knowledge met its end before the onset of the Clone Wars.
The Qel-Droma Epics, which are considered to be of a quasi-historical nature, detail how Odan-Urr honored a promise to his Master, Ooroo, by designing and supervising the building of the Great Jedi Library. It was built high atop Ooroo Canyon on the planet Ossus. Within this library, Odan-Urr dedicated himself to cataloging and studying ancient artifacts within the Chamber of Antiquities, alongside translating and digitizing numerous writings. For nearly a thousand years, the library stood as a testament to the Jedi's commitment to knowledge, evolving into a pilgrimage site that required several days of travel to reach.
The destruction of the Great Library occurred sometime before the Clone Wars. Prior to the construction of the Jedi Temple located on Coruscant, the Jedi undertook an evacuation effort to salvage certain holobooks and artifacts from the doomed Great Jedi Library on Ossus. These salvaged items eventually found their way to the Jedi Archives on Coruscant.
The Qel-Droma Epics recount the devastation of Ossus during the Cron Supernova, an event triggered by the Sith Lord Naga Sadow, who caused stars in the Cron Cluster to explode as supernovae. The Jedi, receiving minimal warning, prioritized the recovery of artifacts from the Chamber of Antiquities. Despite their best efforts, only a small portion of the artifacts stored on the planet were saved, reaching the Jedi Temple on Coruscant via the nearby Exis Station. The Great Library was left in ruins.
By the time of the Imperial Era, only the ruins of the Great Library remained, a mere shadow of its former grandeur. Kaddyr bugs chirped and roamed around its entrance.
According to the Qel-Droma Epics, the Great Library was built atop a solitary hill above Ooroo Canyon, intentionally placed several days' journey from both Knossa and Ossus City. Depictions of the Great Library's precise appearance vary across different sources, largely due to misleading floor plans circulated by the con artist Skavak. In addition to standard datacards, the Great Library contained holocrons, which are polyhedral-shaped devices that store phenomenal amounts of data.
While the Library served as a primary storage location, certain sensitive items were kept in submerged satellite structures located near Imhar Canyon, specifically artifacts requiring aquatic or humid environments. Remote access to the library's digitized archives was available at the branch library in Knossa, allowing scholars unrestricted access. Researchers could also remotely operate droids within the main Library to interact with physical tomes and scrolls.
The primary public space within the Great Library, known as the Hall of Knowledge, was accessible to all and encompassed chambers spread across multiple levels and serving various functions. This extensive area contained ancient star charts, Jedi texts, philosophical works, and galactic histories spanning thousands of worlds. Jedi librarians were stationed throughout the stacks to assist researchers in their quest for knowledge. The Hall included archives, classrooms, study and reading rooms, information desks, and kiosks.
Recognizing that some knowledge posed a danger if freely accessible, Odan-Urr designated the second sublevel of the library as the Chamber of Antiquities, a repository for such items. This was not merely a single room but a complex labyrinth, subdivided into numerous sections, including areas like the Vault of Justice, making navigation challenging.
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