Overview:

Ghent University Library is a research oriented university library in Ghent, Belgium. It is an academic library that serves as a resource for research, learning, teaching and outreach activities at the University of Ghent. The library has around 5 million documents in a variety of formats, such as books and journals, electronic resources, CD-ROMs and data files. The library also offers various services and facilities to support academic activities, and use of the library is free to all students and staff of Ghent University. The library has three main locations that are spread throughout Ghent and serve the different needs of the university community. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Belgium
Prominent Features:

1. Ghent University Library is the largest university library in Belgium and one of the major academic libraries in Europe. 2. Ghent University Library is composed of a network of 10 libraries covering various academic disciplines. 3. It houses 1.8 million volumes in both print and digital formats. 4. With a large selection of periodicals in print and electronic form, both in Dutch and other languages, it is a major source of scholarly material for students and researchers. 5. The library provides users with access to a range of databases and other e-resources. 6. It offers a wide range of services dedicated to making information easier to access, such as online reference services, inter-library loan and document delivery services, digitization of photographs and manuscripts and customised training sessions. 7. The library also hosts a number of exhibitions and other cultural events throughout the year. 8. The library is open 24/7 and offers free Wi-Fi enabling students to access online resources. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belgium.

History:

Ghent University Library, Ghent is one of the largest and oldest academic libraries in Belgium. It was founded in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands. Originally, the library was housed in the former Pope’s palace located in the historic centre of Ghent. The library quickly expanded and was soon moved to the Palace of Count de Robiano. The collection size of the library quickly grew in the 19th century, soon surpassing one million books. However, the collection was damaged in World War II and much of the collection was looted and in some cases, destroyed. The new library was rebuilt in 1954, with a large portion of the new library dedicated to science and technology. The library’s collection has now grown to over four million, making it one of the most impressive academic libraries in Belgium. Today, the library is a major research and information centre for Ghent and the Flanders region. It consists of three main departments: the Reference Library, the Special Library and the Digital Library. The library has a wide range of services, including scanning, photocopying, printing, archival reference and consulting services. There is also a café and a restaurant located in the library. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belgium with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. It is one of the oldest university libraries in Europe, boasting a history that dates back to the 15th century. 2. It is home to over 4 million books and manuscripts, including collections from as far back as the late 15th century. 3. The library holds an extensive digital collection with more than 170,000 electronic texts and around 700 databases. 4. It has the world’s largest collection of Erasmus's works and manuscripts, and it holds and copies of every book ever published since 1949. 5. The library is considered to be one of the most important libraries in Europe for research in the fields of religion, philosophy, history, languages, and literature. 6. One of its most famous features is the annual mass book burning ceremony, which takes place during the Ghent Festival of Lights. During this event, all unused and unwanted books are burnt spectacularly in the University Gardens. 7. It is also home to a variety of rare works, including a 13th century copy of the Bible, and a Gutenberg Bible from the mid-15th century. One of the historical monuments of Belgium, it tells the story of a bygone era