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Links
1)The Libraries in the Renaissance Library Collection
This page contains links and a brief description for all the 72 beautiful old libraries, which have appeared in the
six editions
of the Renaissance Library Calendar. The libraries are listed in alphabetical order.
The two dates given for each library refer to the founding or
construction date of the library, and the edition of the Rensaissance
Library Calendar in which the library appeared.
Abbey Library, St Gallen, Switzerland, 1758, 2001
http://www.stibi.ch
The Abbey Library can be traced back to the two founders of the St. Gall Monastery
in the 7th and 8th centuries. The Baroque Hall was built between 1758 and 1767, and
is reputed to be the most beautiful rococo interior in Switzerland.
Abbey Library, Waldsassen, Germany, 1585, 2001
http://www.abtei-waldsassen.de/
The original monastery library, from the 16th century, was plundered and a rebuilding
project started in 1681. Decoration of the library began in 1724-25. Galleries around
the room, seemingly supported by carved figures, divide the walls of books into two stories.
Altenburg Abbey Library, Altenburg, Austria, 1729-42, 2003
http://www.stift-altenburg.at
This Benedictine Abbey was originally founded in 1144. The Library is situated in a baroque hall, dating from around 1730.
Angelica Library, Rome, Italy, 1765, 2003
http://biblioroma.sbn.it/angelica/
Originally an Augustinian convent library, the Angelica became a State Library in 1873, so ending the Augustinians' involvement.
Artis Library, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1838, 2006
http://www.uba.uva.nl/collecties/object.cfm/objectID=E91469AE-C2CC-499A-
818F2423EF7130F3
Founded in 1838 and now part of the University of Amsterdam, the Artis
Library is a very important reference library for research on Zoology,
especially Taxonomy, Evolution, Animal Behaviour, History, and the
Foundation and Philosophy of Biology.
Austrian National Library, Vienna, Austria, 1723-26, 2002
http://www.onb.ac.at
The Austrian National Library is the successor to the Austrian Emperor’s
royal court library, which dates back to the 14th century. The magnificent
Baroque Great Hall was built from 1723-1726.
Bernadotte Library, Stockholm, Sweden, 1796, 2002
http://www.royalcourt.se
The Bernadotte Library is located in the Royal Palace. It contains about 100,000 books which have been owned by the various Kings and
Queens of Sweden.
Boston Public Library, Boston, USA, 1895 , 2003
http://www.bpl.org/
Boston Public Library, founded in 1848, was the first publicly supported
municipal library in the USA, and the country's first public library to let
people borrow books. The McKim Building was declared a national landmark in 1986.
Canterbury Cathedral Library, Canterbury, UK, c.597AD, 2006
http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/
The library at Canterbury Cathedral has a claim to be the oldest in
the English-speaking world, as St. Augustine brought books to this site
in 597AD. Since the early 1440s, a library has been situated on the
north side of the church.
Casanatense Library, Rome, Italy, 1701, 2006
http://www.casanatense.it
The library was founded by the Dominican Friars of the Monastery of
Santa Maria sopra Minerva and opened to the public, according to the
will of Cardinal Girolamo Casanate. It excelled among Roman libraries
for its enlightened policy of acquisitions and its expert cataloguing
activity.
Cathedral Library, Freising, Germany, 1734, 2002
http://www.erzbistum-muenchen.de/dombibliothek
The library has existed since the foundation of the Freising diocese in 739.
The Baroque Hall was built between 1732 and 1734. It was opened to the public,
so becoming the first public library of the catholic land of Bavaria.
Cathedral Library, Kalocsa, Hungary, 1784, 2004
http://www.asztrik.hu
The Cathedral in Kalocsa had an impressive library, even in the Middle Ages,
with over 300 codices and incunabula. The current Cathedral Library, founded
in 1784, functions not as a museum of books, but as an open scientific library.
Chetham's Library, Manchester, UK, 1653, 2003
http://www.chethams.org.uk/
Founded in 1653, Chetham's is regarded as the oldest surviving public library in continuous use in English speaking countries.
City Library of Antwerp, Belgium, 1883, 2004
http://stadsbibliotheek.antwerpen.be/
The first official library in the city hall dates from 1505. It is considered to be
the oldest library in the Low Countries. Since 1883, the library has been housed in
the "Sodaliteit", a historic building (1622), that once belonged to the Jesuit monastery,
City and University Library of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 1794, 2005
http://www.stub.unibe.ch/
it is thought that the university library dates back to 1528-35. By 1698, it had developed into a
municipal and university library. Today, the StUB functions as the library for the university, the
city and the canton (state) of Bern.
Duke Humfrey's Library, Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK, 1598, 2001
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk
Einsiedeln Abbey Library, Einsiedeln, Switzerland, 1738, 2005
http://www.kloster-einsiedeln.ch
A Benedictine monastery was founded in Einsiedeln in 934 AD. Construction of the current
monastery started in 1704 and was completed in 1718. The baroque "Great Library" with its
sophisticated early rococo decorations dates from 1738.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC, USA, 1932, 2004
http://www.folger.edu/
The Folger is an important research center for scholars interested in Shakespeare
and the Renaissance. It is also a museum devoted to Shakespeare’s life and times.
Its architecture has earned it a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Fransiscan Monastery of Friars Minor, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 1695, 2005
http://free-du.htnet.hr/Mala-Braca/
The Franciscan Monastery of the Friars Minor in Dubrovnik dates back to 1317. Its library
was already mentioned in the 14th century, but the original library was destroyed by fire,
following an earthquake in 1667. The library was reconstructed in 1695 and still remains today.
Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY,
USA, 1905, 2004
http://library.vassar.edu/
Vassar College opened in 1865. The Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library
was a gift from Mary Clark Thompson, as a memorial to her husband, who had been
a Vassar trustee. Architecturally, the building style is perpendicular Gothic.
George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA, 1878, 2002
http://archives.mse.jhu.edu:8000/peabody.html
The George Peabody Library dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute
in 1857. The Institute is now a division of the Johns Hopkins University.
The library is a non-circulating collection open to the general public.
Great Library, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, Canada, 1895, 2004
http://library.lsuc.on.ca/GL/home.htm
The Law Society of Upper Canada was founded in 1797. The Great Library houses
the largest private collection of legal material in Canada. Its primary function
is to meet the legal research and information needs of Law Society members.
Helsinki University Library, Finland, 1840, 2001
http://www.lib.helsinki.fi/english/
Hereford Cathedral Chained Library, Hereford, UK, 1611, 2005
http://www.herefordcathedral.org/
Hereford Cathedral has had a working theological library since the 12th century.
The Chained Library dates from 1611. A new library building was created to house
it in 1996. The library also houses the unique Mappa Mundi.
Joanina Library, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 1725, 2001
http://www.uc.pt/bguc/
John Rylands University Library of Manchester, UK, 1900, 2004
http://rylibweb.man.ac.uk/spcoll/
The Library is one of the finest examples of modern Gothic architecture in Europe.
It was an independent library until 1972, but is now part of the John Rylands
University Library of Manchester, housing its rare book and manuscript collections.
Klosterneuburg Abbey Library, Klosterneuburg, Austria, 1834-1842, 2005
http://www.stift-klosterneuburg.at/
Klosterneuburg Abbey was founded in 1114. The present baroque abbey was begun in 1730,
but not completed until 1834-1842, when the library hall was built. The abbey also
houses one of the major masterpieces of mediaeval art: the Verdun altar.
Kremsmünster Abbey Library, Kremsmünster, Austria, 1680, 2003
http://www.stift-kremsmuenster.at/bibliothek.htm
Stift Kremsmünster, a Benedictine Abbey, dates from 777 A.D. The baroque
library was built in the 1680s. The Abbey precinct also contains a famous
18th century observatory, which is 8 stories high.
Library Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA, 1731, 2006
http://www.librarycompany.org
Benjamin Franklin and a group of fifty friends began the Library Company
of Philadelphia in 1731 as a subscription library that collected dues
for its members to share. It served as the library of Congress in the
18th century.
Library of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain, 1771, 2006
http://www.jccm.es/biblioclm
The Library's Borbon-Lorenzana room takes its name from the two Toledo
archbishops, Borbon and Lorenzana, who founded the Library at the end of
the 18th century.
Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA, 1897, 2002
http://www.loc.gov
The Library of Congress, founded in 1800 as a library to serve the members
of the US Congress, has become “the nation’s library”. It is the largest
library in the World, with a collection of more than 120 million items.
Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada, 1876, 2002
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/library/library-e.htm,
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/idb/buildings-e.htm
The origins of the Library of Parliament can be traced back to the 1790s,
when legislative libraries were created for Upper and Lower Canada. The collections came together in 1841 and today's Library was built in 1876.
Library of St. Walburga, Zutphen, Netherlands, 1564, 2002
http://www.walburgiskerk.nl
The building and furniture of this unique 16th century public library have
been preserved almost completely in their original state. Much of the original collection, with chained books, is still in its original setting.
Library of the Benedictine Monastery of Admont, Austria, 1776, 2004
http://www.stiftadmont.at/
The Benedictine abbey of Admont, founded in 1074, is the oldest existing monastery
in Styria. Ranked among Austria’s most important cultural monuments, the abbey's
library is is one of Europe’s great baroque pieces of art.
Library of the Boston Athenæum, Boston, MA, USA, 1849, 2005
http://www.bostonathenaeum.org/
Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the USA, having been
founded in 1807. The present building dates from 1847-1849 and was declared a
National Historic Landmark in 1966. The Athenæum also supports a dynamic art gallery.
Library of the Francke Foundations, Halle, Germany, 1698, 2006
http://www.francke-halle.de
The Library was founded by August Hermann Francke in 1698 and opened to
the public in 1708. The present library was built in 1726-1728, and is
today the oldest existing secular library building in Germany.
Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Lisbon, Portugal, 1717,
2006
http://www.mafra.net/mafra/palacio5.asp
The Royal Convent and Palace of Mafra is the most important monument in
the Portuguese baroque style. The library holds a valuable collection of
36,000 volumes. The collection is in an excellent state of preservation,
thanks to the monks, who had their own bookbinding workshop.
Library of the Palace of the Conde d’Obidos, Lisbon, Portugal, unknown, 2005
http://www.cruzvermelha.pt
The Portuguese Red Cross Society was founded in 1865. The Society bought the Palace
of the Conde d’Obidos in 1919, and made it its headquarters. The Library was rebuilt
after 1935. Its collection consists mainly of books about the Red Cross.
Library of the Plantin-Moretus Museum, Antwerp, Belgium, 1563,
2006
http://museum.antwerpen.be/plantin_moretus/index_eng.html
The Plantin-Moretus Museum preserves the 16th century publishing and
printing company, Officina Plantinia. On 15th July, 2005, the "Plantin-Moretus
House-Workshops-Museum Complex," including its extensive library,
was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Library of the Sorbonne, Paris, France, 1897, 2003
http://www.sorbonne.fr
The Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne started as the library of the University
of Paris in 1770. The current building is located on the site of the original Collège de Sorbonne, founded in 1257.
Library/Sacristy of St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, Egypt, 527AD, 2004
St. Catherine’s Monastery, built 527-565 AD, lies at the foot of Mount Sinai, where
Moses is reputed to have received the Ten Commandments. Its incredible library holds
the World’s second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts (after the Vatican).
Lilienfeld Abbey Library, Lilienfeld, Austria, 1202, 2006
http://www.cisto.at/stift/bibliothek_0.html
The Cistercian Abbey of Lilienfeld was founded in 1202 and is
considered the largest mediaeval monastery in Austria today. Its library
is an example of the Baroque style and one of its treasures is a 14th
century manuscript with fine pictures, "Concordantiae caritatis."
Mackintosh Library, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK, 1909, 2003
http://www.gsa.ac.uk/mackintosh/building.html
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the library contains the original
furniture and light fittings, with art nouveau motifs. Mackintosh's work
marked the beginning of a new style in 20th century architecture.
Malatesta Library, Cesena, Italy, 1447, 2006
http://www.malatestiana.it
The Malatesta Library dates back to the 14th century, when monks started
collecting the first manuscripts. The library building was constructed
between 1447 and 1452. The collection includes manuscripts and books on
philosophy, theology and the Bible, but also classical, medical and
scientific works.
Marciana National Library, Venice, Italy, 1560, 2001
http://marciana.venezia.sbn.it
Marsh's Library, Dublin, Ireland, 1701, 2001
http://www.marshlibrary.ie/
Marsh's Library was built in 1701 by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh. The interior of the
library contains ornate "cages" in which readers were locked to prevent theft. It
remains more or less unchanged since it was built 300 years ago.
Mazarine Library, Paris, France, 1689, 2002
http://www.bibliotheque-mazarine.fr
Cardinal Mazarin’s private library became France’s first public library
in 1643. Mazarin decided that his library would become part of the future
Collège des Quatres-Nations It was built from 1662-1673 and opened in 1689.
Monastic Library at Yuso, San Millán de la Cogolla, Spain, 1665, 2005
http://www.fsanmillan.es
San Millán de la Cogolla contains two old monasteries, Suso and Yuso, both declared
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997. It is recognized as the birthplace of the Spanish
language. The library at Yuso is one of the most important in Spain, because of the
value and age of its collection.
National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK, 1882, 2002
http://www.nal.vam.ac.uk
The National Art Library was founded in 1837. It moved to the South Kensington
site, which was named the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899. It is a curatorial
department, a research library of last resort, and a library for Museum staff.
National Library of Malta, Valletta, Malta, 1796, 2005
http://www.libraries-archives.gov.mt/nlm/index.htm
The Library’s origins can be traced back to 1555. The current library building
was completed in 1796. The library acquired legal deposit status in 1925 and was
officially designated as the ”National Library of Malta” in 1976.
National Library of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1795, 2001
http://www.nlr.ru
Catherine II approved the design of the Imperial Public Library in 1795 and it opened
in 1814. It was to be the repository for all Russian books and manuscripts and a
publicly accessible library. It was named the National Library of Russia in 1992.
National Library of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic, 1727, 2002
http://www.nkp.cz
The Clementinum, a beautiful Baroque group of buildings, is one of the most
important architectural monuments of Prague. Its greatest treasure, the Baroque Library, probably dates from 1727. The National Library dates from 1781.
New York Academy of Medicine Library, New York City, USA, 1926. 2003
www.nyam.org/
The Academy's Library, founded in 1847, is one of the World's largest privately owned medical libraries.
Palafoxiana Library, Puebla, Mexico, 1646, 2006
http://www.bpm.gob.mx
The library is located in a building that was first founded in the 17th
century. In 1981, it was declared a historical monument by the Mexican
President, and in 2005, it was listed on UNESCO's "Memory of the World" International Register.
Parliamentary Library, Wellington, New Zealand, 1899, 2002
http://www.parliament.govt.nz
The General Assembly Library was established in Auckland in 1858. It moved
to Wellington in 1865, together with the whole of the General Assembly. The
library building is a striking example of 19th century Gothic architecture.
Queen's College Library, Oxford, UK, 1695, 2002
http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/library/
The Queen’s College Library was founded originally in 1341, but the mediaeval buildings were demolished at the end of the 17th century.
The present Library was built between 1692 and 1695.
Redwood Library and Athenaeum, Newport, Rhode Island, USA, 1747, 2003
http://www.redwoodlibrary.org/
The Redwood Library and Athenæum is the oldest lending library in the USA, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country.
Riggs Library, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA, 1891, 2004
Riggs Library, completed in 1891, was the University Library until 1970.
Now it is used for storing older library materials, but also for official
university events. It is one of only a few remaining cast iron libraries.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, New Library, UK, 1682, 2001
http://www.rcpe.ac.uk
Established in 1682, the College Library was the first in Scotland devoted to the
study
of medicine. The current home of the Royal College of Physicians was completed in 1848,
and the New Library was built in 1876. It retains its original furnishings.
Royal Library of the Monastery of El Escorial, Madrid, Spain, 1575, 2004
http://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/presenta/servicio/bibesc.htm
The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid, was declared
a Monument of Worldwide Interest by UNESCO in 1984. Its beautiful library,
on the second floor, has a rich collection of codices and incunabula.
St. Florian Monastery Library, St. Florian, Austria, 1745-1751, 2005
http://www.stift-st-florian.at/at/index.html
The monastery was first documented in 819 AD, but construction of the present Baroque
monastery started in 1686, on the foundations of the old Gothic church. The library is
one of the most impressive monastery libraries in Austria.
St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO, USA, 1912, 2005
http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/
Central Library was designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert in the Beaux-Arts
neo-Italian Renaissance style. Construction began in 1908 and the library opened in
January 1912. Funding came partly from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Salamanca University General Library, Spain, 1749, 2001
http://www3.usal.es/~sabus/
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, 1913, 2003
http://www.statelibrary.vic.gov.au
The first free public library in Australia, originally the Melbourne Public Library,
opened in 1856. The library became known as the State Library of Victoria in 1960.
Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, 1926, 2005
http://www.lib.washington.edu/Suzzallo/
The University of Washington was founded in 1861. The Suzzallo Library, named after the University’s 15th president, Henry Suzzallo, was opened in 1926. The Reading
Room, designed in the collegiate gothic style, occupies the whole west facade of the third floor.
Swedish Parliament Library, Stockholm, Sweden, 1851, 2004
http://www.riksdagen.se/rdinfo/rb.asp
The Library of the Swedish Parliament is one of Sweden's largest social science
and legal libraries. Its mission is to serve the members and staff of the
Parliament, but it is also open to the public.
Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland, 1732, 2003
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/
The Library is a University Library, an international research library and a provider of information services to government and business.
It is home of the famous "Book of Kells."
Trolleholm Castle Library, Svalöv, Sweden, late 18th century,
2006
Trolleholm Castle was founded in 1538. After a fire in 1678, it was
remoulded in Rococo style in the 18th century. The library, founded by
Wiveka Trolle in the late 18th century, is Sweden's largest privately
owned library.
Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences and Humanities, Görlitz, Germany, 1807, 2004
http://www.goerlitz.de
The Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences and Humanities dates from 1951, but it was
a combination of two much older 18th century libraries. The library hall, located
in a baroque house, dates from 1807.
Vatican Library, Vatican State, 16th century, 2001
http://www.vatican.va/library_archives/vat_library/docs/index.htm
Vilnius University Library, Vilnius, Lithuania, 1570, 2003
http://www.mb.vu.lt/
The Jesuits established the Vilnius Jesuit College and its library in 1570. It became Vilnius University in 1579. It is a depository library of UNO.
Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge, UK, 1695, 2001
http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=44&stop=10
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