Universitätsbibliothek Wien

University Library, Vienna, with 5,437,590 volumes (1994) one of the largest university libraries in the German-speaking countries; founded together with the University of Vienna by Rudolf IV in 1365; the books were displayed from 1473 in an annex to the former university, from 1492 in a separate library building. The University Library was closed in 1756 and incorporated into the Court Library, re-established in 1775 (when the premises and books of the Jesuit library were taken over). The University Library is directly responsible to the Federal Ministry for Science, Research and Art and open to everyone. The professors T. Resch (d. 1520), C. Michaeler (d. 1861), F. Leithe (d. 1896) and especially F. Grassauer, the founder of modern Austrian librarianship (Libraries), rendered the university invaluable services regarding its organisation, equipment and cataloguing.

Literature: H. Alker, Die Universitätsbibliothek Wien, 1953; W. Pongratz, Geschichte der Universitätsbibliothek Wien, 1965; Handbuch der historischen Buchbestände in Österreich, 1995.