The Founding Collection of Leipzig University Library
After the introduction of the Reformation in the Albertine Duchy of Saxony beginning in 1539, the monasteries were dissolved. From 1541 onward, under its rector Caspar Borner, the University of Leipzig was able to assemble extensive book collections from major monasteries in the former library building of the Leipzig Dominicans: this marked the birth of Leipzig University Library.
This initial collection from the Saxon monasteries laid the foundation for Leipzig University Library’s current status as one of the largest collections of historical holdings in Germany. The monastic collections that were taken over include medieval manuscripts as well as prints from the 15th and 16th centuries, among them numerous outstanding literary and historical sources. They constitute a unique cultural heritage that documents the lost world of monastic learning in this region.