275 Years of the University Library The anniversary programme starts in the summer semester
The year 1748 is considered the founding year of today’s University Library (UB) of Technische Universität Braunschweig. This makes it one of the oldest libraries at a Technische Universität and this year it celebrates its 275th birthday: a good reason to celebrate.
Almost finished: The new building of the University Library in 1972. Photo credits City Archive Braunschweig
With the start of the summer semester, the University Library launches its colourful anniversary programme with the motto “We open up knowledge spaces. Since 1748”. To mark the anniversary, there will be many insights into the history and work of the University Library, as well as glimpses behind the scenes. In November, a ceremony will be the highlight of the anniversary year. On an anniversary website and under the hashtag “#ubilaeum275” on social media, the UB will report on the anniversary activities throughout the year. “We look back with pride on the history of the University Library as a knowledge space rich in tradition. The once rather closed library of the Collegium Carolinum has today become an institution that stands for free access to knowledge and open science,” says Robert Strötgen, senior library director of the UB Braunschweig.
The first items on the programme
Starting on April 13th, the UB will launch its “Throwback Thursday” series on Instagram (@ubbraunschweig) and provide exciting insights into its history every Thursday. A historical photo with a short text shows stations from the development of the University Library.
The blog parade will start on April 17th. Under the motto “Ode to the Knowledge Space”, bloggers are called upon to publish their own contributions on the topic until the end of November. A summary will then be published on the UB blog.
The UBiläum offers a special opportunity for history students. In the summer semester, the Institute of History’s seminar “jUBiläum. From the Archive to the Web” takes place every Monday in cooperation with the University Archives. The University Archive, which is part of the University Library, will present archival materials from its own holdings. The students will not only get an impression of how they can work with the originals – they will also write about a part of the UB history for presentation on the blog.
A special interactive campaign awaits all students at the beginning of the summer semester. The UB is giving away five places for a bookbinding workshop. The winners can create an individual protective cover, for example for notepads, and the bookbinders will give instructions and insights into the techniques and work of this traditional craft.
Starting in May, there will be a guided tour through the “hidden areas of the library” once a month. During a walk through the stacks, you can experience the dimensions of the library up close and learn many interesting and unusual facts about the UB’s book holdings. You can find the dates on the anniversary website.
At the end of the summer semester, the UB will offer a “term paper sprint” for students. With the help of the Pomodoro principle, first aid in literature research and management and in dealing with writer’s block, the term paper sprint is a good opportunity to finally finish “that one term paper”.
In cooperation with the Institute for Regional History, two public lectures will take place in June:
- On June 22, 2023, Dr Timo Steyer and Michael Wrehde will speak about “The Regulated Knowledge Space. Historical Perspectives on the Use of the University Library of Braunschweig”
- And on June 29, 2023, Dr Julian Schenke will report on “Protest, Movement, Library: the ’68ers’ and Braunschweig University Library”.
If you are already curious how the University Library was housed from 1945 until the construction of the current building in 1972 and what the emergency accommodation, the lending desk and study spaces looked like during this time, you can find an exciting article on the UB blog.