Overview:

The Vienna State Library, also known as the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, is one of the largest and oldest libraries in the world. Located in Vienna, Austria, the library is home to over 8 million books and documents. It is the primary repository for all printed publications in Austria, and is an important research and cultural resource for the people of Vienna. The library opened in 1579 and became an Imperial Library in 1632. Today, the library is among the largest in the world and boasts impressive collections of history, literature, science, and art works. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Austria
Prominent Features:

1. Main Reading Room: Located in the historic center of the library is the Main Reading Room–built between 1722–1725 under Emperor Charles VI. It is a lavish Baroque hall full of sculpture, frescoes, and a magnificent ceiling fresco painted by Michael Angelo Unterberger (1743). It also has an extensive four-level book stack, containing over 50,000 volumes. 2. Rotunda: Though originally built to serve as the library’s ballroom in 1755, this location has since been converted to an exhibition hall. This is where the Main Reading Room is located, and it is now used for special events and presentations of the collection. 3. Rare Book Rooms: This is the collection of rare books, manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, and prints. It contains over 100,000 items. 4. Library Courtyard: A small courtyard is located in front of the library, and there are several pieces of sculpture located throughout. 5. Museum: The library also houses a small museum. It displays many statues and artifacts, including one of the world’s oldest surviving globes, dating back to 1599. 6. Library Gardens: Located just outside the library is an extensive garden. It includes a pond, trees, plants, and even a beer garden. It's a great place to enjoy a late afternoon stroll. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Austria.

History:

The Vienna State Library, or the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, is located in Vienna, Austria and is the largest library in Austria. It was founded in 1526 and is one of the oldest and most important in the country. The library was originally called the Imperial Public Library, having been established by the Imperial Hapsburgs as a repository for books and manuscripts. In 1821, the library was renamed the Austrian National Library, and, today, it houses over 8 million printed publications, manuscripts, maps, coins, and digital objects. The library established its first cataloging system in 1789, but, due to the Napoleonic Wars, the entire collection had to be moved from Vienna and stored in Breisgau, a region of Germany. In 1848, following the expulsion of the Hapsburgs, the library was opened to the public and soon became widely regarded as one of the leading libraries in Europe. The collection grew steadily over the 19th century as various governments and private donors made contributions. The library continued to grow until World War II, when it was damaged and had to be closed. It reopened in 1955 and was refurnished in 2001. Today, the library is a main source of information for many different kinds of activities, from public research to government planning. It also houses a variety of archive collections, including historical city maps, medieval manuscripts, and 19th-century newspapers. In addition, the library holds regular seminars and educational programs, enabling Viennese citizens to further enrich their knowledge. Visit one of the famous monuments of Austria with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Vienna State Library, opened in 1722, is one of the world’s oldest public libraries and is of great historical and cultural significance for the Austrian people. 2. The library houses a unique collection of literature, manuscripts, music, prints and maps, making it one of the largest and most important libraries in Europe. 3. The library has more than 7.2 million volumes, making it the largest general scientific library in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Europe. 4. The library also has one of the largest collections of incunabula (books printed before the year 1501). It also holds some of the earliest maps, globes and scientific instruments. 5. It was the site of the famous “Book Burning Incident” in 1933, when the Nazis began to destroy literature they deemed inappropriate. 6. The library is located in Vienna's Hofburg Palace, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburg's, and has a palatial interior that includes a staircase designed by famed architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. 7. The library is also home to the Papyrus Collection, with one of the world's most precious collections of ancient manuscripts on papyrus. 8. It is also home to the Austrian National Library. This is a legal deposit library, meaning that it has a legal right to collect any books and printed materials published in Austria. One of the historical monuments of Austria, it tells the story of a bygone era