University Library of Graz
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The University Library of Graz is the largest scientific and public library in Styria, and the third largest in Austria. It consists of a main library and several branch libraries.
History
The library was founded in 1573 as part of a Jesuit school by Archduke Charles II of Austria. In 1585 this school was raised to the status of a university by Pope Gregory XIII and so the library became a university library. When the order of the Jesuits was dissolved in 1773 both the university and its library came under state administration. In 1782 the university was downgraded to a lyceum under emperor Josef II, but re-established by emperor Francis II in 1827. When the old university in the central district of Graz became too small, a new complex of buildings was erected in the late 19th century. In 1995 the library moved there.
The 20th century was characterized by constructional changes and decentralization. In 1996 a media-library was established. When the Medical University of Graz split away in 2004 so did a part of the library. In 2005 the "Cooperation for Electronic Media in Austria" was established at the University Library of Graz, which is also significantly involved in the project Austrian Literature Online.
See also [History of Graz University Library]
Staff
In 1775 there were only two librarians: the director and a servant. In 1900 17 persons (including 8 academic officers) were working in the library. In 2000 the number was 120.
| The directors of the University Library of Graz under state administration | |
| 1773-1774 | Josef Bardarini (1708-1791), professor of theology und philosophy, rector of the university |
| 1775-1778 | Richard Tecker (1723-1798), professor of dogmatics |
| 1778-1783 | Franz de Paula Tomicich (1729-), professor of ecclesiastical law, rector of the university |
| 1783-1797 | Augustin Herz |
| 1798-1814 | Josef Alois Jüstel (1765-1832), professor of moral theology, rector of the university |
| 1817-1832 | Markus Sandmann (1764-1832), author |
| 1833-1852 | Johann Krausler (-1852) |
| 1853-1861 | Leopold Michelitsch |
| 1861-1866 | Karl Kreutzer |
| 1866-1880 | Ignaz Tomaschek |
| 1880-1895 | Alois Müller (1835-1901), specialist for Hebrew studies |
| 1895-1903 | Wilhelm Haas (1842-1918), afterwards director of the University Library of Vienna |
| 1903-1910 | Anton Schlossar (1849-1942) |
| 1910-1919 | Johannes Peisker (1851-1933), later professor of social and economic history in Prague |
| 1919-1924 | Ferdinand Eichler (1863-1945), professor of library sciences |
| 1924-1933 | Jakob Fellin (1869-1951) |
| 1934-1945 | Franz Gosch (1884-1952) |
| 1945-1953 | Wolfgang Benndorf (1901-1959) |
| 1954-1971 | Erhard Glas (1906-1992) |
| 1972-1988 | Franz Kroller (1923-2000) |
| 1989- | Sigrid Reinitzer (1941-) |
| 2004- | Werner Schlacher (1955-) |
Holdings
In 1879 the library held 100,000 books. This number doubled until the first years of the 20th century. In 2000 the holdings of the library included about 3 million printed books, more than 2000 manuscripts, about 1200 incunabula, the literary remains of many scholars, and 1400 current periodicals.
Special collections
The department for special collections is in charge of all manuscripts, and books printed before 1901. The most remarkable parchment manuscripts are the five oldest Georgian manuscripts (7th - 11th century) from Saint Catherine's Monastery near Mount Sinai. Of the paper manuscripts the most important items are letters from Johannes Kepler to Paul Guldin. 42 papyrus manuscripts from Oxyrhynchos and Hibeh are also worth mentioning.Literature
- Manuela Reiter and Sigrid Reinitzer: University Library of Graz. In: International dictionary of library history. Vol. 2. Chicago, London 2001.
External links
- ()[University homepage]
- [History]
- ()[virtual trip] Just click into the pictures to chose the path followed
- ()[library catalogue]
- ()[Special collections]
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