University library of the Graz University of Technology
| University library of the Graz University of Technology | |
|---|---|
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| Library type | University library |
| place | Graz |
| ISIL | AT-UBTUG-HB |
| Website | http://www.ub.tugraz.at/ |
The University Library of the Graz University of Technology is the service facility of the Graz University of Technology and is responsible for the comprehensive supply of literature and information in teaching and research. As a social objective, it pursues the preservation of the cultural heritage in the technical and scientific fields. The library has four locations: the main library, the Inffeld specialist library, the specialist library for chemistry, the specialist library for geodesy and mathematics and over 80 institute lists. Its services are primarily aimed at students and researchers at the university, but it is also open to the public.
history
The library of the Graz University of Technology has existed as a separate facility since 1889. Before that, it was part of the library at the Joanneum , the “National Museum” for Inner Austria founded by Archduke Johann. This library was opened in 1812, one year after the Joanneum was founded. At the Joanneum, lectures on mineralogy, physics, chemistry, and botany were given from the start. The Technical University at Joanneum was established in 1865. Since 1875 there has been a separate annual allocation for technical literature in the state library. This literature collection remained under one roof with the state library. Since the books and magazines acquired with this grant were administered separately, this actually marked the beginning of the university library. With the completion of the main building of what was then the Technical University in Rechbauerstraße in 1888, part of the technical book and magazine collection of the Joanneum Library was handed over to the University. The library was given its own premises on the first floor of the main building, and thus the final separation from the Joanneum library took place.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Emil Ertl , the first director of the library at the Technical University, complained about the lack of space in the library. Over the next few decades, however, only provisional solutions could be achieved, such as the adaptation of rooms adjacent to the library. It was not until 1975 that the library moved into an independent library building at Technikerstraße 4, where it is still located today. A lack of space accompanied the library for many years. A renovation of the building in 2008 was used to convert 4 magazine floors into open access areas and open them to students.
Recent developments
In Austria, the library distinguishes the early introduction of EDP in the collection of the holdings and library statistics. The initiatives of the library director, Karl F. Stock, to make use of modern technologies were accepted in the technical environment of the university. In 1976 there was an incremental directory on a mainframe computer from the Sperry- UNIVAC company . Furthermore, in the mid-1980s, an E DV concept was developed for the library, which provided for automated business processes, the expansion of a local network at the library and options for interfaces to other systems. An online catalog has existed since 1986. Since the inventory was available in machine-readable form back into the 1970s, the online catalog contained around 70,000 titles from the start.
The RFID technology found its way into the library of the Graz University of Technology in 2005. It was the first university library in Austria to introduce RFID. This made it possible to improve the service in the borrowing area (self-booking).
Following the renovation in 2008 (see section History), 2012 continued to expand the open access areas in the main library and to make the usage area more inviting and oriented towards current user needs. The redesign of the reading rooms on all four floors in 2012 was carried out according to the designs by Pretterhofer Simbeni Architects. After several months of general renovation in the summer, during which the main library was closed for use, it was reopened on October 8, 2012.
tasks and goals
The university library sees itself as a bibliographical information and competence center of the Graz University of Technology and strives to use the latest methods and technologies in order to achieve its goals in the best possible way. The goals include
- optimizing access to scientific information and literature through technical and organizational measures,
- Documenting, making accessible and archiving research results from one's own university
- Create your own e-resources as well
- Promote information literacy among university members.
Furthermore, the library defines itself as a supplier of library and bibliographical know-how at the university and positions itself as an innovative library in Austria through the use of new technologies and the provision of new services such as bibliometric analyzes.
Holdings and collection areas
Electronic and printed media from the technical and scientific fields make up the library's holdings. The selection of literature is determined by the university's teaching and research activities. Particular attention is paid to the electronic resources that are made available to all employees and students of the university.
The library focuses on the following areas:
- architecture
- Civil engineering
- Mechanical engineering and economics
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Mathematics, Physics and Geodesy
- Technical chemistry, process engineering and biotechnology
- Computer science and biomedical engineering
Archive of the Graz University of Technology
In January 2011, the archive of the Graz University of Technology was incorporated into the university library. It was originally set up in 1996 as a department of the central administration. Until then, there had been no central archive at the university. The documents were either kept or disposed of by the file-producing offices themselves.
The archive takes over, evaluates, indexes and stores the administrative and scientific records of the Graz University of Technology. In addition, it stores the bequests of lecturers and graduates as well as documents relating to technology. Another focus is on historical devices that were in use at the Graz University of Technology. The stock comprises around 2,000 running meters. Two thirds of them are administrative files and one third are other collection items. A modern archive management system has been in use since 2009 for more efficient processing and increased convenience in use, and online research has been possible in the archive's holdings since the beginning of 2011.
Cooperations
By participating in national and international networks, the library achieves a broader range of services and literature for its users. The library has been a member of the Austrian Library Association since 2000 , a founding member of the Austrian E-Media Cooperation, and it participates in the Electronic Journal Library (EZB) . The library also participates in national and international interlibrary loan .
Special tasks
In addition to the tasks mentioned above, the library fulfills other functions within the university. It supports the university's scientific publication activities in the form of its own publishing house. The publishing house promotes young scientists at the university and promotes its offer at international trade fairs and scientific events. The university's publications database, in which all scientific publications by university members are listed, was designed in collaboration with the Central Informatics Service of Graz University of Technology and is maintained by the library (including maintenance of the lists of standards for journal names and conference names).
literature
- Gunther Cink, Gerhard Moderitz, Franz Weissofner: University Library of the Technical University. In: Handbook of historical book stocks in Austria, Vol. 4, Hildesheim: Olms-Weidmann, 1997, pp. 51–55.
- Manfred Hödl: From the punch card to the online information system - an Austrian way? In: Der Österreichische Bibliothekartag 1986, Biblos-Schriften No. 140, 1988, pp. 177–198.
- Gerlinde Maxl: New outfit for the main library. In: TU Graz people, No. 43 / 2012-3, p. 10.
- Gabriela Radwan: First university library with RFID technology. In: TUG-Print-News. Ed. 15, no. 2 (2005), p. 8.
- Karl Stock: The University Library of the Graz University of Technology. In: Graz University of Technology, Archduke Johann University - History, Teaching and Research Activities, Graz: 1982/83, pp. 31–32.
- Ernst Stranzinger: History of the University Library of the Graz University of Technology: 1875-1975. In: Biblos. Vol. 30, H. 4 (1981), pp. 302-329.
- Ernst Stranzinger: History of the University Library of the Technical University of Graz: 1875-1975 - continuation and conclusion. In: Biblos. Vol. 31, H. 1 (1982), pp. 12-56.
- Manfred Weixler: The University Library of the Technical University of Graz (dissertation). Graz: Technical University, 1983.