New book depot in Vienna: Library will be made fit for the future!

New book depot in Vienna: Library will be made fit for the future!

Reichratsstraße, Wien, Österreich - The main library of the University of Vienna will change fundamentally! According to a message from university rector Sebastian Schütze and Christine Dornaus, managing director of the Federal Real Estate Society (BIG), the new room concept will be able to record more than twice as many users as before. The conversion costs amount to around 48 million euros. A highlight of the project is the time capsule, which was embedded in the listed facade during a ceremony. Among other things, it contains a daily newspaper from the day of the foundation stone and a USB stick with a virtual tour of the approximately 9,000 square meter library.

Thanks to the architecture firm Gunther Palme, the library will in future be equipped with a new entrance from Reichsratsstraße and a multi -storey hall. This will accommodate the first point of contact with a loan point, while all areas are designed barrier -free and energy -efficient. Among other things, modern ventilation systems with heat recovery systems and LED lighting are planned. The new spatial possibilities are created by the recently completed joint book storage facility for several Viennese universities, which is to be opened in early May; In the future, this will retain about 130,000 running meters to relieve the main building, which has grown from originally 500,000 to 2.7 million volumes since its draft in 1884.

conversion and schedule

The renovation work begins on September 23, 2024 when the large reading room and the catalog hall are closed. From October 1, 2024, various department libraries extend their opening hours to continue to give users access. From October 28, 2024, the ordering of non -borrowed books will no longer be possible, since the book stocks will be moved to the new depot. From December 18, 2024, the borrowing and opposite loan will be available at a new location on Stiege 5 Hochartre, which further improves the accessibility of the library. The completion of the renovation is planned for spring 2027, whereby the large reading room is preserved in its historical appearance, while modern workplaces and entrances are created for the users.

Further details will be announced in a nutshell, but this comprehensive renovation represents a significant step towards a contemporary and user -friendly library offer at the University of Vienna, as well as on library.univie.ac.at