Basel University Library (institution)

Historical background

The first written evidence of the library's existence dates from the year 1471; its early date makes it one of the most important libraries of the country. The library began compiling its catalogue in volumes from 1559 to 1889, when began organizing its material by a so-called „Zettelform“ (or, roughly, list form, where the items of the catalogue can be found by author name). This was later changed to a subject heading catalogue in 1939.

In 1886, ten years before the library was moved to its own building, the first curatorial librarian was employed. Between 1962 and 1968, the library's current location was found. The library of medicine was later founded, in 1978, as a subsidiary of the original library and which can now be found in the Basel University Hospital (earlier: Basel Cantonal Hospital).

1471 – first evidence of existence of the library

1559 – first catalogue

1866 – newspaper of librarian

1889 – catalogue on cards

1896 – library relocated to the bigger building

1939 – keyword catalogue

Computer cataloguing and application was used from 1981 onwards and the first database was installed in 1985. In 1988 the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue), the library of the Economics faculty (Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Zentrum, WWZ,) and the business archive of Switzerland (Schweizerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv, SWA) were also put into service.

In 1995 (and continuing to this day) electronic borrowing was activated and the open stacks were put into service. Popular, public access to the internet has been possible for the public since 1997.