Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Munich, Germany
N 48° 08.851 E 011° 34.808
32U E 691909 N 5335915
The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (English: Bavarian State Library) in Munich, Germany, is one of the most important universal libraries in Europe.
Waymark Code: WMMJHV
Location: Bayern, Germany
Date Posted: 09/28/2014
Views: 15
"The Bavarian State Library (German: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, abbreviated BSB) in Munich is the central "Landesbibliothek", i. e. the state library of the Free State of Bavaria and one of Europe's most important universal libraries. With its collections currently comprising around 9.81 million books, it ranks among the best research libraries worldwide. Moreover, its historical stock encompasses one of the most important manuscript collections of the world, the largest collection of incunabula worldwide, as well as numerous further important special collections.
The legal deposit law has been in force since 1663, regulating that two copies of every printed work published in Bavaria have to be submitted to the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. This law is still applicable today. The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek furthermore is Europe's second-largest journals library (after the British Library). The BSB publishes the specialist journal Bibliotheksforum Bayern and has been publishing the Bibliotheksmagazin together with the Berlin State Library since 2007. Its building is situated in the Ludwigstrasse."
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"The architect Friedrich von Gaertner was commissioned to plan the building, which was erected between 1832 and 1843. The elongated building on Ludwigstrasse, comprising two inner courtyards, has a length of 152 metres, a depth of 78 metres and a height of 24 metres. With these dimensions the library building is the largest blank brick building in Germany. At the time of its inauguration the building was regarded as the most modern German library building."
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"The four larger-than-life stone statues designed by Ludwig von Schwanthaler prominently situated at the flight of stairs are affectionately called "the four magi" by the Munich population. From left to right, the statues represent the founder of scholarly historiography, Thukydides, the creator of the Ilias and the Odyssee, Homer, the philosopher and teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristoteles, and the most famous physician of antiquity, Hippokrates. In total, they symbolise the diversity of sciences, the collection of whose literature was the mission of the Royal Court and State Library."
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