Magdeburg's city library: A treasure of 500 years of reading culture!

Magdeburg's city library: A treasure of 500 years of reading culture!

The Magdeburg City Library is a true jewel of culture and history. In 2023 it celebrated its 500th anniversary, making it one of the oldest city libraries in Germany. Every day the library opens its doors at 10 a.m. and attracts a large number of enthusiastic visitors. The diverse offering ranges from books and tonies to games to quiet workplaces and special projects for school classes. And the events are also a hit: from picture book cinema to animation workshops to homework help, there is something for every need. According to reports from MDR The library is perceived as an important “third place” alongside home and work, as the committed librarian Anne Rüster emphasizes.

The city library is not only a place for reading, but also a space for meeting, learning and exchanging ideas. Under the leadership of Cornelia Poenicke, the importance of reading is upheld and the library is regularly stocked with new books. Over 1,000 new children's and young adult books have found their way onto the shelves, which is of particular interest to young readers.

Special treasures and events

On the occasion of the anniversary, the special exhibition “Treasures of the Magdeburg City Library” was set up, which presents bibliophile treasures. This includes around 100,000 historical works that document the incredibly diverse history of the library. The exclusive exhibits include impressive children's books, such as the pop-up and 3D books by Lothar Meggendorfer from the 19th century and the children's book classic “Der Struwwelpeter” in various editions. Anyone interested can visit the exhibition until the end of October; tours can be booked by calling 0391/540-4880 kulturmd.de reported.

Another highlight is the current “XXL Reading Summer” event, the largest holiday reading campaign in Saxony-Anhalt. 57 libraries are taking part here, encouraging children and young people to read and discover new literature. Despite competition from the Internet, the city library has stable user and borrowing numbers and enjoys high demand for fiction and children's literature.

A look into history

The roots of the Magdeburg city library go back to 1525, when the Augustinian monastery library was handed over to the city council. This marked an important new Reformation foundation and laid the foundation for the development of municipal libraries, which often emerged from monastery holdings. Historically, the beginnings of municipal libraries before the 19th century often lay in church, monastery or school institutions. An overview of the development of urban libraries shows that some were founded in the imperial cities in the 16th century, such as the Magdeburg library, which is considered one of the oldest. More about this is in Historical lexicon of Bavaria to read.

The history of the city library is a reflection of local culture and people's thirst for knowledge. It has not only provided the utility of information but also created a platform for social interaction and shared learning. With a rich historical inventory and modern offerings, the Magdeburg City Library remains an important institution for all generations.