Behold the Hauptbibliothek in Erfurt a treasure trove of knowledge. This magnificent building stands proudly on Domplatz. Its history is as rich and varied as the books it holds.
The Hauptbibliothek wasn’t always a library. It began life in 1905 as the “Zum Goldenen Einhorn” a building with a fascinating past. Initially it housed a specialty theater. Later it became a tavern with club rooms. After World War II it was transformed into a residential building with a shop on the ground floor.
Notice the powerful volutes on its gable. The spiral ornaments are truly remarkable. Observe the house sign stone “Zum gulden Einhorn anno dni 1536” integrated into the facade. The surrounding scenes are the work of sculptor Max Deutschmann. This unicorn-depicted house sign stone is the oldest surviving one in Germany.
The Erfurt City and Regional Library the official name of the Hauptbibliothek was founded much earlier in 1897. It started with a mere 3000 volumes. But its growth was steady. Except during World War I increasing numbers of users spurred the expansion of its collection and the opening of branches across Erfurt.
The Nazi regime and World War II severely impacted the library. Regular lending services only resumed in September 1946. The library continued to evolve. A bookbinding and repair workshop was established in 1956. A music library was added in 1957. It started lending records. In 1969 the public library and the scientific library merged to form the “Scientific General Library Erfurt”. Since 1976 you could even borrow pictures from the “Artothek”. CDs arrived in 1990 and a video library opened in 1993.
In 1997 it was renamed to the City and Regional Library Erfurt. The library continued expanding its services. This includes e-media online lending internet workstations a library cafe and a reading terrace. In 2020 a new section called Extrathek was opened featuring board games.
The Hauptbibliothek isn’t just a repository of books. It is a vibrant community hub. It hosts numerous events like readings concerts and exhibitions. It’s a place for learning and socializing. Come explore its collection. Discover its rich history. The Hauptbibliothek awaits you.