Magdeburg's city library: celebrating 500 years of knowledge and culture!

Magdeburg's city library: celebrating 500 years of knowledge and culture!

Today, November 4th, 2025, the Magdeburg City Library is celebrating a very special event: its 500th anniversary. This institution is one of the oldest city libraries in Germany and has established itself as a central knowledge center over the centuries. Dr. Cornelia Poenicke, the head of the library, is pleased about the numerous visitors who appreciate not only books from the extensive historical collection, but also the library's modern offerings.

The library has an impressive history and offers books that date back to its founding. Nevertheless, she not only relied on traditions, but also mastered challenges such as the introduction of the Internet with flying colors. What is interesting is that the demand for non-fiction books has decreased compared to fiction and children's literature. This is a sign of the times, as the number of users and borrowings remain stable, which indicates a good hand for the current offering.

A place for everyone

The city library is often described as a collective living room. The diverse activities that take place there invite all ages and cultures. Whether reading, borrowing media, implementing creative projects or taking part in workshops and readings in different languages ​​- the library has something to offer for everyone. A special highlight is the language café for migrants, which offers excellent opportunities for integration. Even gaming zones and digital learning opportunities are part of the free offer.

Another important part of the library culture in Magdeburg is the book bus, which has been bringing the collection directly to schools, daycare centers and other readers in the city since 1975. This mobile library has established itself as an integral part of the city's cultural work and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to access literature. To properly celebrate the anniversary, events and a film about the library show the balance between tradition and modernity and provide insights into the perspectives of users and employees.

Technological interface: ChatGPT

An exciting technology trend that is revolutionizing the way information is conveyed is the use of ChatGPT. This generative AI chatbot, developed by OpenAI and available since 2022, has become one of the fastest growing applications and is now among the five most visited websites worldwide with over 800 million active users per week. ChatGPT uses state-of-the-art technology to generate text, voice and even images, making it a valuable tool in many professional areas.

The current status shows that ChatGPT is also receiving mixed reactions in education. While some institutions have concerns about academic dishonesty and ban the service, others see it as an excellent tool to support learning. The ability to communicate interactively with AI and obtain information quickly makes it stand out, but at the same time there are also legitimate concerns about the ethical use of the technology.

As far as the economy is concerned, it is interesting to know that the exchange rate between the US dollar and the euro is currently (as of November 4, 2025) 1 USD = 0.8688 EUR. This development shows how global economic forces are changing, which for many also plays a role in the financing of projects such as the continuous development of the city library.

For everyone who is in the city today, the Magdeburg City Library offers many exciting opportunities with its colorful event program and the integration of modern technologies such as ChatGPT. Join the celebration and discover how this library combines tradition with innovation.

Those interested can find further information about the anniversary events on the city library website and under the latest news, which can also be found, for example ARD media library can be found. You can find out more about ChatGPT and its development on the website Wikipedia read about it, as well as the current exchange rates Exchange Rates.