Ever borrowed an e-book without leaving your couch? That’s just a glimpse of what the Städtische Bücherei offers today. But its story began long before the digital age. We are standing in front of the Städtische Bücherei. This isn’t just a place for books. It is a portal to Vienna’s cultural and social evolution.
The Städtische Bücherei wasn’t always a city-run institution. Private organizations laid its foundation. Groups like the Wiener Volksbildungsverein built libraries for public education. By 1914 they ran 27 branches. They had over two million annual borrowings. Eduard Reyer’s Verein Zentralbibliothek was also important. It had 24 branches and 3.5 million borrowings in 1911. These charged fees and employed librarians.
However the city of Vienna did not found the Worker’s Library of Vienna until 1936. That year, Vienna adopted existing public libraries. These libraries had previously been run by private organizations.
The rise of Austrofascists marked a dark turn. The Association of Workers’ Libraries was seized. Attempts to resist the corporate state through cultural work were stifled. In 1936 a new law brought libraries under municipal control. Book censorship intensified. Around 1500 titles were indexed.
In 1938 the Municipal Libraries replaced the Association of Worker Libraries. The National Socialists removed Jewish authors’ books. Jews were banned from using the libraries after the Novemberpogrom in 1938. The librarians remained largely the same. Left-wing politics and Jews had already been banned since 1934. Hans Ruppe became the leader. He aimed to control reading. He reduced fiction. He strengthened non-fiction aligning with National Socialist views.
Post-war rebuilding was slow. Only a third of the former Workers’ Libraries remained. The book collections were decimated. Social democrats didn’t reclaim the Workers’ Libraries. The Municipal Libraries were integrated into the city administration.
Since the 1950s libraries were built in community buildings. They included children’s sections. In 1970 the first main library was built. Writers were hired as librarians to promote literature. Rudolf Müller played a key role. The “over-the-counter” system was replaced. Readers gained free access to shelves. A bookmobile served outlying areas until 2009.
In 2003 the main library moved to Neubaugürtel. Ernst Mayr designed the building. It looks like a 150-metre-long ship. The entrance features Vienna’s biggest staircase. It leads to the roof. A café sits on top.
Today the Städtische Bücherei offers over 1.7 million media. This includes books CDs DVDs and more. They have reading corners for migrants. They provide internet access. The Virtual Library of Vienna allows e-media downloads. Since 2002 the main library uses RFID for media accounting. Customers can use scanning devices.
Each November the Städtische Bücherei hosts the “Lesofant” festival. It is a cultural event for children. The Libraries in Vienna also support Vienna’s free book campaign. “Eine STADT. Ein BUCH.”
In 2019 the Libraries in Vienna faced a hacker attack. Data of over 713000 users was leaked. Christian Jahl led the Libraries in Vienna until 2022. Bernhard Pöckl is the director since February 2022.
The Städtische Bücherei stands as a testament to Vienna’s commitment to education and culture. It has evolved. It has adapted. It remains a vital resource for the city’s residents. It is a place where stories are preserved and shared. It is a true community hub.