Library of Archaeology, Prehistory and Ancient History to move to the Bibliotheca Albertina

30 March 2026

The Library of Archaeology, Prehistory and Ancient History at Ritterstraße 14 will close as an independent library branch at the end of May 2026. In future, its holdings will be made available at the Bibliotheca Albertina.

This decision is connected to the Leipzig University Library’s long-running branch consolidation process, under which the number of branches has been reduced from around 50 in the year 2000 to ten today. The aim of this process is to pool resources and thereby ensure an infrastructure for study and research that is both highly effective and responsive to the diverse needs of users. The process of branch consolidation within the library system also frees up funds to support the University’s financial consolidation process.

With the integration of the holdings in archaeology, prehistory and ancient history into the Bibliotheca Albertina, these materials will in future be available at a central location with long opening hours (8am to midnight, and until 10pm at weekends), automated borrowing and return facilities, and a wide range of study and workspaces. This will improve, in particular, both the hours during which the materials can be accessed and the ways in which they can be used.

We are in discussion with the departments concerned in order to keep the impact of the move as small as possible and to ensure that users’ requirements can be taken into account in the planning.