The Libraries of Denmark. Copenhagen. 1929. 21 sider.
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THE Royal Library, the largest library of Scandinavia and the National-Library
of Denmark was founded by King Frederic III (d. 1670), and has incorporated the
greater part of the large and wideranging book-collections, found in Denmark in
the 18th century; it received for instance from Mr. Otto Thott, the Prime
Minister, more than 4.000 manuscripts, and more than 6.000 books, printed before
the year of 1530. An universal library of more than 100.000 volumes, belonging
to Mr. P. F. Suhm, the historian (d. 1798), and a special library of Danish
printings of about 10.000 volumes, belonging to Mr. Henrik Hjelmstjerne (d.
1780), were likewise embodied into the Royal Library, the largest and most
complete collection of Danish national literature, by this time existing. At the
close of the 18th century the library was, on all lines and on all sciences one
of the most excellent in Europe.
During the 19th century the library has, owing to the rise in book-production,
more and more concentrated in humanities, and, when the Danish state in 1924,
appointed a commission to organize the Danish libraries after rational
principles, the Royal Library was intrusted to act as the Main Library of the
country, on humaniora, while the University Library obtained a corresponding
position, concerning medicine and natural science. More over, the position of
the library as National-Library was maintained, i. e., the library must collect
and keep the Danish literature, in an extent, as complete as possible.
The book-stock of the Royal Library, covering 24.300 m. in compact setting., is
at, present estimated to encompas about 850.000 volumes, viz: about 30.000
manuscripts, and more than 4.000 palaeotypes, besides encompassing music-,
photographmap- and picture-collections. Amongst the manuscripts are Tycho
Brahe's autographic observations, and the world-famed old-Icelandic parchment
manuscripts of the carlier Eddic poems and the FlatoeBook, with a statement of
the Vikings' discovery of America, 500 years before Columbus.
At the library serve the director, eight librarians, ten sublibrarians, and
eight librarian-assistants, besides extra assistants. The library has its own
bookbindery, and a photographer's studio.
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
THE library was established in 1482, three years after the foundation of the
University; but not until the introduction of the Reformation into Denmark was
it enlarged extensively, for instance by embodiment of bookcollections from
abolished cloisters and cathedral-chapters. Only a smaller part of it was open
to the students; it was merely reserved for the professors. In the first part of
the 17th century it was quite enlarged, for instance by the endowment of the
royal historiographers' effects, among which were many valuable sources of
Danish history. In the second part of the 17th century it received the most
valuable donation, Professor P. H. Resen's (d. 1688) book-collection, rich in
paleaotypes and Icelandic manuscripts.
In 1657 the library was removed to the loft of the Trinity Church, this being
burnt down and ruined by the great fire; ravaging Copenhagen in 1728. But the
first steps were soon made for the commencement of another library, for which
many distributions were received; partly by numerous duplicates received from
the Royal Library, partly by large manuscript-collections, especially from
Frederic Rostgaard (d. 1775), and from the Earl, Chr. Rantzau (d. 1771). By
purchase, copied sources of the medieval Danish history (by Bartholin Thomas,
the Y.) were acquired; also a collection of Greek and Latin manuscripts from Mr.
J. A. Fabricius, the philologist. Messrs. Rasmus Rask and N. L. Westergaard, the
celebrated linguists, donated collections of Oriental manuscripts, among which
was the famous Old-Persian manuscripts, containing the oldest existing
Zend-Avesta-Texts. In 1861 the library was removed to the present building, the
prototype of which is St. Fermo Church at Venice, and the book-hall of which is
an architectural curiosity, but it is not at all up to the requirements of today,
as a practical library-building ought to be.
In the year of 1867, Major-general J. F. Classen (d. 1792) bestowed upon the
library his book-collection on the natural sciences, and already previously
another similar collection from the Earl J. G. Moltke (d. 1818) had come into
possession of the library. Through these additions the natural sciences
gradually took an outstanding place at the library.
Of the accessions of late we shall emphasize the manuscripts from Søren
Kierkegaard, the philosopher (given 1875) and the manuscripts by Mr. H. C.
Ørsted, the physicist, both collections being very valuable. At present the
library is estimated to contain about 430.000 volumes, 6.500 mss. and about
180.000 foreign theses. The Danish literature has until 1927 been received
through legal-delivery from the printers, but since 1927 this arrangement has
been dissolved for a new one, in consequence of which the library has a right to
request from the publishers, what it is in need of.
Since the re-arranging of the libraries of the state in 1926, the library
cultivates foreign literature, especially Natural Science (Botany only to a
slight degree), Mathematics and Medicine, while the remaining subjects are left
to the Royal Library.
This separation of the subjects will, by degrees also, be effected in the older
bookstock.
The entire estimate for the library is 60.000 Kr., 25.000 Kr. of which are spent
in books and periodical-subscriptions. The building was in 1907 enlarged by an
addition, modelled after the magazine-principle and built with five stories.
Besides the book-stock and 5 office-localities the building is furnished with a
reading-room of 52 seats, a room for book-circulating, a room for catalogs and a
periodical-reading-room, in which about 400 periodicals are laid open to the
readers.
At the library are engaged: The director, 6 librarians, 10 sub-librarians and 2
librarian-assistants. In the second half of the 19th century, the library
developed into a State-Library, to which not only the university-professors and
students have free admission, but also any searcher of knowledge. The
reading-rooms are open 13 hours on week-days.
The archives of the University are also embodied in the building, and here is
kept the papal bull concerning the foundation of the University, also the
Arna-Magnean Mss.-collections (about 2.570 mss., about 6.000 original diplomas,
and about 10.000 copies of other diplomas), the largest collection of
Old-Norwegian-Old-Icelandish literature, given to the University by the
Icelander, Arne Magnusson (d. 1731). A printed catalog of this collection was
published 1889-94; for the library's own Mss.-collection a printed catalog
covering, the Oriental part was published 1846, and as to the Northern parts a
catalog is under publication now.
The library acts as the center for exchanging publications of the University
with other universities and sends every year the Danish theses to numerous
institutions abroad. In the year of 1929 a catalogue of the Danish
thesis-literature from 1836 to 1926 was published.
A series of reference-libraries are united to the University, partly at the
different laboratories, partly at the museums and other institutions. The
largest laboratory-library is the philological-historical laboratory,
established 1896, about 11.000 volumes. Of the museum-libraries the most
valuable is the library of the Botanical Garden, founded 1791, having about
25.000 volumes, among which is much old literature, this now acting as the
chief-library of the country on the botanical domain. Other large libraries are
united to the Astronomical Observatory (about 10.000 vol.) the Zoological Museum
(about 30.000 vol.) and the Mineralogical Museum (about 18.000 vol.).
Reference-libraries are also at other institutions, e. g. the Navy-library,
founded 1765, at present numbering about 24.000 vol. besides a large arctic
collection, the Artillery-library (abt. 21.000 vol.), the library of the
Ordnance-maps (abt. 19.000 vol.), the Meteorological Institute-Library (abt.
17.000 vol.), the National-Museum-Library (abt. 25.000 vol. archaology), the
Art-Museum-library (abt. 7.000 vol.), the Serum-Institute of the State (abt.
6.000 vol.). Also to the larger hospitals, particularly to the State Hospital,
belong some reference-libraries.
All the libraries mentioned are, more or less open to the public, although only
a portion of them allows the use of books out of the library. The
laboratory-libraries, belonging to the University, are only available to the
students.
THE STATE-LIBRARY IN AARHUS
THE State Library in Aarhus is a universal Library, containing about 300.000
volumes, besides music-books, maps, pictures, pamphlets etc., and is the third
largest library of Denmark, the only large scientific library outside the
Capital.
At the establishment of the library in the year of 1902 the duplicates of the
Danish literature from the Royal Library in Copenhagen were incorporated and
since that year the library receives deposit copies of all Danish printed
matter, so that the library now contains practically all Danish prints after the
year 1800, and also a very considerable part of the older literature. The main
constituent of the foreign department at the State Library was formed of two, by
that time, existing local libraries and three large private collections; viz.
that of Mr. Wegener, the keeper of the State Archives, that of Mr. Regenburg,
superior magistrate of the diocese of Aarhus, concerning the duchies of Slesvig
and Holsten, and the library of foreign missions of Dean Vahl, a collection of
international importance. Later different society libraries, private libraries,
and special collections have been incorporated into the State Library., which,
moreover, goes on increasing by purchase, by endowments, and by change and
exchange of duplicates with similar institutions abroad and in this country. The
library works in intimate connection with the scientific institutions and
associations in Aarhus, and has thus, together with the Medical Society of
Jutland established a medical department.
Duplicates of foreign literature have lately been received from the two large
scientific libraries in Copenhagen. The State Library sends out annual lists of
accessions of foreign literature and publishes a series of subject catalogs. The
library staff comprehends 20 persons, besides bookbinders, keepers etc.
Adults, living outside Copenhagen, have the right to use the library. The loan
in Aarhus comprises therefore only about 25 of the entire loan, amounting to
62.741 volumes during the year 1928, a great deal of this loan takes place
through the local libraries. Only special and scientific literature, together
with fiction in foreign language is lent out; Danish fiction is excepted from
ordinary loan.
The library has organized a circulation of scientific and special periodicals;
in 1929 264 periodicals circulate among 500 subscribers.
The reading room with a reference library of about 3.300 volumes and about 250
periodicals is open on week-days from 11-22; during the 4 summer-months only
from 11-18; this reading-room being used by about 27.000 visitors in 1928.
The State Library published in 1927 a comprehensive account of its activity,
during the first 25 years. The State Library is the library of the new
university of Aarhus (Universitetsundervisningen i Jylland). A section of the
reading-room is reserved to the university people.
The newspaper collection of the State in Aarhus is a section of the State
Library. It was opened 1918 and receives deposit copies of all Danish newspapers,
that are bound in the collection's own bookbinding and are at the disposal of
the public in the reading, room. The collection numbers at present about 16.000
volumes. The newspaper-collection is administered by a manager, who has two
assistants.
THE DANISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES
THE object of the public libraries is to aid the general public educationally,
during all stages of its development and to become a support for and a
supplement to the work undertaken by the schools, public (primary) schools as
well as other schools for elementary education, whether this is of a general
kind, as in public schools (folk-high-schools and other schools for young people)
or of a special kind (agricultural, technical or commercial schools, etc.). The
public libraries must, moreover, provide and directly support the free public
educational work (lectures and study circles).
The public libraries are, therefore, different from scientific libraries, as
well as from club- or circulating libraries, these serving either special
interests or providing only occasional entertainment. Yet, scientific studies
can very well be pursued in a public library when this can be done by means of
the stock of books necessary for a public library, and, in addition, the public
libraries promote scientific research by borrowing literature not in their own
possession from other libraries, without regard to their use for further aim
than the library's own.
The stock of books of the public libraries must in the first instance contain a
collection of the best literature for children and young people, besides a
collection of good fiction of all kinds, selected without prejudice and so as to
satisfy every stage of development.
In addition to this material instructive geographical and historical works must
be on the shelves, in the front row books of travel and biographies. Furthermore,
a varied selection of publications on aesthetical, cultural, social, and
religious subjects, and in particular on national history and culture. Finally,
a selection of the best books on nature, and works of practical guidance on
agriculture, commerce, crafts and industries.
Furthermore the larger libraries must arrange in their reading-room not only
reference-books, such as enclyclopaedias, lexicons, directories, codes of laws,
etc., but also large manuals on diffferent subjects. In the reading-room should
also be found the current anual series of periodicals and newspapers.
Particularly characteristic of the Danish library is the co-operation between
the libraries: a number of town-libraries serving, besides their own town, a
larger country district, as a rule a county (with 50-100.000 inhabitants).
These so-called Central-Libraries lend to the country district, such books as
are not considered necessary for the smaller parish libraries. They also aid the
smaller libraries by every means by purchasing books, by cataloging, etc., and,
finally, the Central Libraries serve as distributing-institutions for loan froms
the scientific libraries of the State all of which are practically to be found
in Copenhagen. For the aid of this last activity, the State has established an
information bureau in Copenhagen, to which any book requisitions from the town
libraries may be sent for closer examination and may be distributed to the
individual libraries.
The Public Libraries or as their official name is the State-Supported Libraries,
were organised by the Public Libraries Act of March 5, 1920, renewed in 1923.
The Public Libraries Act provides for the distribution of the Government subsidy,
lays down the conditions on which grants may be obtained, and regulates the
Government supervision of the libraries.
The Government subsidy to any Library must not exceed the grants from local
sources (County or parish funds or contributions from private persons), the
maximum Government subsidy to any one municipality or parish being 15.000 Kr.
annually. The so-called Central Libraries may, however, receive up to 23.000
Kr., while bigger towns may be granted still larger sums, as specified in each
individual case.
The libraries are as a rule municipal, and are invariably under public control.
The use of the libraries is either free or conditional on the payment of a very
low fee. The area served by each library is as a rule a municipality or parish (commune),
the Central Libraries, however, serving a larger district or a County. The
librarians of the larger libraries must be approved by the Government, which
lays down the rules governing the borrowing of books and the use of reading
rooms.
The supervision of the libraries and the distribution of the Government ,
subsidy are in charge of the Library Inspectorate, the head of which is the
Director of Public Libraries. The Library Inspectorate also administers the
grants to school libraries. The Public Library Inspectorate prepares various
handbooks etc., and issues bibliographical publications, one being an annual
index to periodical literature. It furthermore directs the Government Librarian
School and advises the Ministry of Education in questions relating to the
management of libraries.
The maximum Government grant to the particular libraries is normally 15.000 Kr.;
for the Central Libraries, however, it is 23.000 Kr. To understand these figures
it must be remembered that only 10 of the municipalities in Denmark have above
20.000 inhabitants.
The libraries for children associated with the public schools are not affected
by The Library Act, but receive a special grant. Since 1928 the state, however,
only subsidizes the children's libraries of the schools in municipalities, where
no public library is to be found. In most of the municipalities the public
library has taken over the libraries for children, however, so that book lending,
may take place from the schools, if desired, the school then acting as a branch
of the public library.
The number of state subzidized libraries is at present about 840; 750 are in
about 1.800 small parishes, while libraries are to be found in all towns, 80 in
all. Of these libraries 27 are acknowledged as Central Libraries, which are now
found in all counties, except one.
The entire number of volumes in the libraries is about 1.700.000 (about 250.000
of which are in the public libraries of Copenhagen). The local contribution from
the municipality, private persons and institutions makes about 1.700.000 Kr. (about
600.000 Kr. of which from Copenhagen). The grant from the state is about 950.000
Kr.
SPECIAL LIBRAIRIES
CARLSBERG LABORATORIUMS BIBLIOTEK, København, Valby, was founded 187G; it aims
to serve the staff of the laboratory and contains a Reference Library of abt.
5.000 volumes specially on chemical, biological and brewery-technical literature.
DANSK FARMACEVTFORENINGS BIBLIOTEK, København, V., was founded 1890; its chief
aim is to serve practicing chemists. It contains abt. 6.000 volumes on chemistry,
botany, bacteriology, pharmacology, toxocology, physics, mathematics and
medicine, and especially pharmacopoeia. Further, a collection of dispensing
prescriptions, an archive containing photographs of famous chemists and a
collection of envelopes used for their prescriptions by Danish chemists and
peculiar to the different chemistries. - Printed catalogue issued 1927. Open
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 14-17, Saturday 11-13.
DANSK INGENIØRFORENING, København, V. Reference library for the members of the
association. Open daily from 9-17.
DANSK SKOLEMUSEUMS BIBLIOTEK, København, V. was established in 1887. It contains
about 20.000 volumes, and is devoted to pedagogic and schoolquestions. Special
collections of school-programmes and Danish school-books must be emphasized,
these having been used for century; besides it has a particular picture
collection, relating to elder school-history and different material to throw
light upon school-museums of other countries. About 150 periodicals on
pedagogical and philosophical subjects are at disposal. The library has
published several reference lists, and has also a handwritten reference-catalog
of the contents of the library. It is open from 2-7, except on Saturday, and
during the summer from 2-5.
DEN KGL. VETERINÆR- OG LANDBOHØJSKOLES BIBLIOTEK (Library of the Royal
Veterinary and Agricultural College), København, V. Special library for
veterinary science, agriculture, forestry, horticulture and landsurveying.
Contains abt. 92.000 volumes, including pamphlets and theses; especially a large
collection of manuscripts. Up til 1916 printed catalogue, thereafter
type-written. Alphabetical and systematical catalogues, the first on single
sheets and the second in loose-leaf register, now being reconstructed to the
filing-card system. - The library sends books and magazines to all parts. A main
part of the foreign periodicals are indexed on cards. Indexing lists are
published in professional papers. Open daily 9-16, July and August 9-12.
DET SOCIALE SEKRETARIATS BIBLIOTEK, Køben-havn, K., founded 1899, for the
purpose of spreading knowledge of social conditions and movements in and outside
of Denmark. The library is owned by a private, state subvented society, which
acts neutrally as well politically as confessionally. It contains 10.000 volumes,
especially on social literature, and has from the year 1900 card catalogue of
all foreign literature on social-economics to be found in the most important
Danish libraries. - Open daily 13-16.30, Tuesday 13-18.
DET STATISTISKE DEPARTEMENTS. BIBLIOTEK. København, K., was founded 1834. It
acts as special library for statistic literature and as reference library for
the staff of the department. It contains abt. 40.000 volumes statistical
literature,, besides a number of topographical and economical works, statistical
literature is to be found only in few other libraries. Type-written
card-catalogues are provded for the readers. - Open 14-16 daily.
FARMACEVTISK LÆREANSTALTS BIBLIOTEK, København, Ø., founded 1892 for chemists.
Contains act. 7.000 volumes of botanical, chemical and pharmaceutical literature,
and especially a collection of pharmacopoeia. - Open daily 11.30-13.30.
FORSIKRINGSFORENINGENS BIBLIOTEK, København, K. was established in 1915, and its
purpose is to give the staff of the insurance-companies an opportunity for
professional an recreational reading. It contains 23.000 volumes on insurance-,
mathematics- and political economy and fiction. The library has besides special
collections of tariffs, accounts, and statements from domestic and foreign
companies. The library has two reading-rooms, one for the professional, and one
for the reading welfare. Printed catalogs are published. For use by the public
there is an alphabetical as well as a systematic card-catalog and a
title-catalog. - Open 4 hours on week-days.
HAANDWERKERBIBLIOTEKET, TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT, København, V., was founded 1919.
Its purpose is to give free admission to all artisans and small manufacturers
for the study of the mechanical literature of their trades. It contains abt.
4.000 volumns and abt. 270 periodicals. - Open daily 12-14 and 19-21.30. Winter
9-11.30 Sundays.
HANDELSHØJSKOLENS BIBLIOTEK, København, V. The Library is founded 1922, it
contains about 2.000 volumes on Economics, Bookkeeping, Banking and other
commercial topics. A special collection on Advertising has just been formed.
Classed and alphabetical card catalogues.
INDUSTRIFORENINGENS BIBLIOTEK, København, V., was established in 1838 but after
the re-organization in 1913-14 it has developed into a Special-Library for
industry. The library aims to act as an information-bureau for industrial, and
to a smaller degree, commercial research. For that reason most of the 300
periodicals are indexed and cards sent to firmas, desiring information regarding
the different magazine articles. Besides, the library lays stress upon securing
knowledge of the very latest products, all important advertisement-sheets are
kept, and arranged for use of the readers, patent descriptions and standards
from England and Germany are classified and made easily available and up-to-date
catalogues from firms are arranged in the reading-room. It also emphazises the
need for the most recent literature on labour-questions and industrial
management. The number of services are above 40.000, of which 2.000 consist of
photographs of periodical-pages taken with the Photostate, procured in 1925. The
library is open 12 hours on week-days, and during the summer 10 hours.
KUNSTAKADEMIETS BIBLIOTEK, København, K., founded 1758. It aims at being the
main library for the history of art, and contains abt. 30.000 volumes on the
development of art, especially in Europe. Of its special collections can be
mentioned abt., 10.000 sheets of architectonical plans and measurements.
Alphabetical and systematical card catalogues are at the disposal of the public.
A systematical card catalogue of articles appearing in periodical is to be found,
also a systematical card catalogue of similar literature in other libraries.
Open 13-18; May-September 13-16.
KUNSTINDUSTRIMUSEETS BIBLIOTEK, København, K., was founded 1894, it supplements
the Kunstindustrimuseum and is the Danish special library for the industrial
arts. It contains abt. 13.000 volumes, collections of reproductions (abt. 30.000
photographs), of ornamental engravings and of decorative drawings by Danish
artists, Card catalogue of authors and subject catalogue; a printed catalogue of
books on furniture (a catalogue of the literature on textiles is being prepared).
70 periodicals circulate among the members of the library's subscription club. -
Open every work-day (exept Mondays) 13-16; Tuesdays and Fridays 19-21.
NY CARLSBERG GLYPTOTEKS BIBLIOTEK, København, V., was founded 1925 for the
purpose of giving students admission to scientific works in connection with the
collections of the Glyptotek. It contains abt. 7.000 volumes on archaeology and
modern history of art. Particularly it contains a number, of series of
periodicals and publications from different museums; also auction catalogues.
Card catalogues of books and periodicals, a systematical catalogue under
preparation. - Open daily 10-16; Saturday 10-14.
PATENTDIREKTORATETS BIBLIOTEK, København, V., was founded in 1894. It aims to
examine technical inventions and contains abt. 3.000 volumes patentliterature,
and abt. 3.000.000 patent-descriptions. For the benefit of the public
systematically arranged Danish descriptions are to be found in the readingroom.
- Open 9-14.
RIGSDAGENS BIBLIOTEK, København, K., was established in 1850 and contains abt.
40.000 volumes on jurisprudence, social politics, finance, and statistics.
Besides, it lays stress on prucuring the Parliamentary-proceedings and political
history of the different countries. Several times it has published printed
catalogs. The library is rather to be considered as reference-library for the M.
P., but is also open to public. During the parliamenthours it is open 10 hours
daily.
TEKNISK BIBLIOTEK, GENERALDIREKTORATET FOR POST- OG TELEGRAFVÆSENET, København,
V., is a reference library for the staff of the post- and telegraph service, and
contains abt. 3.000 volumes on the above subjects. - Open 10-16 daily.
TEKNISK BIBLIOTEK, POLYTEKNISK LÆREANSTALT, København, K., was founded in 1909
by arrangement between the Royal Technical College and the Technical
Association. The library has, since 1927, been intented to develop as the State
Central Library for technichal-scientific literature; to this end the technical
literature of the University Library and that of the Danish, Engineering
Association are to be transferred to this library. It contains abt. 20.000
volumes, but will increase to a large extent by the mentioned transfers. Further,
15.000 volumes are to be found in the libraries of r
the laboratories; these volumes can only be lent out in limited numbers. The
library contains abt. 200 foreign periodicals and the laboratories contains abt.
100. - Open 10-16 and 19-21.