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The traditional University Archive, whose origins date back to 1497, will be integrated into the University Library. This will unite two historical institutions into a joint center for written and digital knowledge - from the oldest documents of the University of Ingolstadt to modern research data of the present. Learn more

2019 marks the opening of the Philologicum, the university’s largest and now most heavily used specialized library. Behind its historic façade, a groundbreaking new building is taking shape between Ludwigstraße and Schellingstraße, designed with user needs in mind: a wide variety of study, work, and lounge areas for students and researchers are becoming increasingly important.

Starting in 2018, the University Library will expand its research data management services and offer consulting, tools, and infrastructure for planning, publishing, and reusing data generated or used in research.

In 2012, while cataloging, library staff discover a unique globe segment map by Martin Waldseemüller in the historical collection - a find of global significance because this map coined the name America.

Between 2002 and 2010, the University Library systematically established electronic publishing services: repositories such as Open Access LMU, electronic university theses, the international economics repository Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA), open data, and open journals were set up, making research results freely accessible worldwide.

In the early 2000s, LMU's University Library was one of the first German university libraries to establish a comprehensive e-book offering, which forms the basis for a largely digital information service.

The Fachbibliothek Psychologie und Pädagogik was the first of what are now 14 specialist libraries at LMU. As LMU continues to expand across Munich, the concept of specialist libraries ensures that the university library's services are always available close to the respective faculties.

The temporary accommodation of the university library after the war did not end until 1967. In the south wing of the main building and in the annex formerly used by the Bavarian Mining, Smelting, and Salt Administration, a three-story new building for the university library is constructed behind the historic façade, with ten storage floors, initially several reading rooms, and offices for the library administration.

During World War II, the university library - like the entire university - was severely damaged: around 350,000 volumes - about one-third of the collection - were lost in bombing raids. Library rooms and catalogs were also destroyed. Particularly valuable items were moved to storage in time. The return of the rescued books to the main building took until 1959 and was carried out under provisional conditions.

In 1826, King Ludwig I relocated the university from Landshut to Munich. In 1840, the library moved into the newly constructed university building on Ludwigstraße. With a growing number of users and a rapidly expanding collection, the first extensions were built at the beginning of the 20th century. By 1925, the university library was already one of the largest university libraries in Germany, with around 830,000 volumes.

After more than 300 years in Ingolstadt, Elector Maximilian IV Joseph (later King Maximilian I of Bavaria) relocated the university and library, with almost 50,000 volumes, to Landshut. A decisive growth spurt occurred as a result of secularization in 1803: around 57,000 printed works and 400 manuscripts from dissolved monastery libraries doubled the collection and had a lasting impact on it.

In the late 16th and 18th centuries, the library grew through numerous mergers. In 1589, the remaining holdings of the Faculty of Arts were integrated. After the Jesuit Order was dissolved in 1773, its library was transferred to the university library. Other libraries, including seminaries and the medical faculty, followed suit by 1776.

In 1472, Duke Ludwig the Rich founded Bavaria's first state university in Ingolstadt. One year later, the nucleus of the university library was created with the establishment of a book collection by the Faculty of Arts. After considerable losses to its holdings due to the intervention of the Jesuits, the library was re-established in 1473 under the vice-chancellor of the university, Martin Eisengrein, and developed into a universal humanistic library.