World libraries: Berlin State Library celebrates its 350th anniversary

In March 2011 the Berlin State Library – Prussian Cultural Heritage (Die Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin — Preußischer Kulturbesitz) is celebrating its 350th anniversary. The library was founded in 1661 by Frederick William I of Brandenburg as “Churfürstliche Bibliothek zu Cölln an der Spree” and was located in the palace of the Great Elector. In his youth Frederick William visited Holland where he familiarized himself with public libraries. Today the Berlin State Library is a major scientific universal library in German-speaking countries.

A hundred years after its foundation the library’s collection featured almost 150 000 editions. By 2011 its holdings has grown to over 23 million storage units, among them at least 10,8 million books, as well as manuscripts, maps, photographs and electronic media (electronic newspapers and journals). The library possesses extensive special collections of national and world cultural heritage (manuscripts of world-famous composers, manuscripts of the East and the West, the collection of incunables and rare print editions). Every day the state library provides services to over 4 000 bibliophiles.   

The Berlin State Library has been actively involved in international projects. As for now the library is taking part in a project which aims to digitize World War I documents. The project is expected to appear in 2014 to mark the centenary of the war.

To commemorate the library’s 350th anniversary on March 4 2011 the German Historical Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum) is opening an exhibition of unique editions from the library’s collections “Library makes history. 350th anniversary of the Berlin State Library” (“Eine Bibliothek macht Geschichte. 350 Jahre Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin”). The exhibition puts on show the Gutenberg Bible (1455), the manuscript of Wolfgang Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”,  an original text of Germany’s national anthem by August Fallersleben, as well as documents related to foundation of the Berlin State Library signed by the Great Elector Frederick William I and many other rarities from the library’s holdings. The exhibition will be open up to June 19 2011. For more details on events timed to the library’s anniversary please visit http://staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/sbb350.