Books need publicity, which is why they need libraries.

"Particularly since reading is such a self-sufficient activity", says Max Dudler, "libraries must be places of exchange and community in the age of the Internet. Their rooms do not only serve for the classic acts of intellectual work – reading and writing –, but also for communication, encounters and discovering while taking a leisurely stroll".

In Max Dudler's libraries there are consequently silent rooms of concentrated work, but also places of hospitality.

Among other things, Max Dudler is known for library buildings as diverse as the Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum – the large central library of the Humboldt University in Berlin – or the City Library of Heidenheim. His latest library project is the current restructuring and up-to-date enlargement of the historical library building of the State and City Library of Augsburg, which is directly subordinated to the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek as one of the ten regional State Libraries of Bavaria.

The selection of 26 library planning projects displayed in the exhibition on long tables along the staircase balustrade shows the results of more than 20 years' work of the architect on the topic, which starts with the draft for the new regional library in Dresden from the year 1996. The architect's work is explained at two listening stations. He speaks personally about his early, formative experiences at the Abbey Library St. Gallen and the meaning of libraries to him. There are contributions by library users and information about the State and City Library of Augsburg, which is currently undergoing construction. Films projected onto three screens invite visitors on a virtual stroll through the Jakob-and-Wilhelm-Grimm Center in Berlin, the City Library of Heidenheim and the Folkwang Library in Essen. Three renowned photographers, Barbara Klemm, Xandra M. Linsin and Zara Pfeiffer, show their very personal take on the libraries designed by Max Dudler. Their pictures have been printed on 21 textile banners, which have been hung in the window bays in the library's staircase. In the Fürstensaal, the built libraries are shown on architecture photos by Stefan Müller, along with architectural models, plans and publications about the work of Max Dudler.

Opening hours
20 October 2023 – 4 February 2024
Open daily from 08:00 to 22:00 (closed on bank holidays and on 24 and 31 December 2023)

Admission is free / www.bsb-muenchen.de / www.maxdudler.de

Venue
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Ludwigstrasse 16, 80539 Munich
Underground lines U3/U6, bus lines 58/68/153/154, station/bus stop Universität
Bus lines 100/153, bus stop Von-der-Tann-Strasse

Image material
Reproducible press images can be found following this link
https://syncandshare.lrz.de/getlink/fiFCyaS5iGpYqrLeKbYfPv/
Please note the photo credits.

Press release for download
Press release  (PDF, 2.2 MB)

Contact
Monika Krauss
Max Dudler – Architectural office
Oranienplatz 4, 10999 Berlin
Phone +49 173 2317827
m.krauss@maxdudler.de

Peter Schnitzlein
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Communications Department
Ludwigstrasse 16, 80539 Munich
Phone  +49 89 28638-2429
presse@bsb-muenchen.de

About the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Founded in 1558 by Duke Albrecht V, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, which holds 37.2 million media units, is the largest scholarly universal library in Germany and one of the most important heritage institutions worldwide. With over 3.7 million digitized works, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek holds the largest digital data stock of all German libraries. The library offers a broad variety of services in the field of innovative digital use scenarios. In addition, it acts as the technical and editorial operator of the Bavarian state's cultural portal bavarikon and of the Literaturportal Bayern, as well as the technical operator of the official announcement platform of the Free State of Bavaria.