Library of the Montan University Leoben
The library of the Montanuniversität Leoben is the largest academic library in Upper Styria and is the only university library in Austria that is not located in a regional capital . The inventory currently consists of 270,000 volumes of monographs and 650 printed and 2500 electronic journals. The library is divided into the main library, the specialist library for geosciences, the RWZ library and 30 institute libraries. The focus of the collection is on the research areas of the Montan University, mining and metallurgy , geosciences , materials science, plastics technology and environmental science. In addition, the library collects Styriaca, Leobiensia, biographies and mining historical works in order to meet its requirements as a public library.
history
In 1840 the "Steiermärkisch-ständische Montan-Lehranstalt" was founded in Vordernberg . Peter Tunner (1809–1897), the founder and first director of the educational institute, made a contribution to building up a book collection . He approached the library of the Joanneum in Graz in order to receive relevant works from there as loans for Vordernberg, which was also answered positively. But the books did not materialize. The initial holdings of the library consisted of works from Archduke Johann's private library , the initiator of the educational institution, and donations from Peter Tunner. The students themselves wrote the first textbooks on mining and metallurgy and also lithographed them.
The first inventory of the library was made in 1849 when the educational establishment moved to Leoben. The handover protocol to the state recorded 252 works in 575 volumes, including 13 magazines and periodicals. Due to the lack of continuous records from the 19th century, it is only possible to shed some light on the development of the book and magazine inventory. However, there must have been a library in the true sense of the word before 1849, as the handover inventory already speaks of a "library room". In 1851 a “teaching institution library” is mentioned in a ministerial order, and in the organization plan of the teaching institution from the same year a library is specifically addressed as an aid for teaching and training.
The library was subordinate to the director of the educational institution ( Bergakademie ), who also determined the purchase of literature. Since Leoben had only one bookseller , two Viennese booksellers were asked to send consignments to Leoben. At the meetings of the college of professors, the books were selected for purchase. The endowment of the library was modest in the first decades, it did not increase until the 1870s, so that now, in addition to the current specialist literature, valuable historical works could also be purchased. Most of the literature that is significant in mining history came to the library through donations from professors and graduates.
The historical literature is now accessible in the mining history documentation , which is currently being incorporated into the central catalog. Around 50,000 entries on the history of mining and metallurgy, mining culture, mining law and mining training are recorded in the documentation, which has developed from a card catalog, with the topographical focus on the crown lands of the monarchy . A particularly noteworthy work is the “Schwazer Bergbuch”, an illuminated manuscript from the second half of the 16th century, in which the conditions in silver mining in Schwaz in Tyrol are described in detail.
Special collections
The university library has around 350 pit maps and plans of mining facilities and steel works from the former crown lands of the monarchy. In addition to the mine map holdings in the Hofkammerarchiv in Vienna, they form the most extensive cataloged holdings.
In addition, a collection of graphics offers a valuable addition to the literature on mining history. A university archive is also being set up at the library ; for example, the matriculation books and catalogs of the school are almost completely available, but must first be processed.
Projects and Cooperations
- The university library of the Montanuniversität Leoben is a member of the Austrian library network .
- It is a cooperation partner at the EZB ( Electronic Journals Library), DBIS (Database Information System) and one of 13 founding members of the "E-Media Austria" cooperation, which aims to optimize the licensing of electronic media via consortia at Austrian academic libraries.
- The library is a member of the interlibrary loan system GEOUM, which, apart from conventional interlibrary loan, aims to obtain specialist literature, especially from small research units in the field of geosciences .
- The library is the initiator and co-organizer of the biennial international symposia on cultural heritage in the mining and geosciences.
literature
- Jontes, Lieselotte: On the history of the Leoben University Library. In: Biblos 27 (1978), H. 3, pp. 266-274.
- Jontes, Lieselotte: The University Library of the Montan University Leoben. A technical and scientific library with a strong connection to the history of mining. In: res montanarum 29 (2002), pp. 5-9.
- Jontes, Lieselotte: The University Library of the Montan University and its cultural significance. Collection, preservation, performance. In: Gedenkschrift in memoriam Peter Sika. Altböckstein 1995, pp. 24-31.
- Kroller, Franz: The library of the Montanistische Hochschule Leoben. In: Biblos 11 (1962), no. 1, pp. 16-23.
- Lube, Manfred: The university library. Inventory development and organizational changes since 1849. In: 150 Years of the Montan University Leoben. Graz 1990, pp. 169-184.
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 23 '5 " N , 15 ° 5' 37" E