The reconstruction included the energy-oriented restoration of the windows and of the roof and a completely new design of the area of use.

The reading room is accessible to scholarly experts such as Slavicists, historians of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Sinologists, Arabists and Indologists and other users with an interest in these regions. The extensive reference library, encompassing over 40,000 volumes, and the access to digital research media and databases offer optimum working conditions. Besides extended opening hours, the new concept of use includes the improved technical equipment of the workplaces, a reading corner and leasable lockers for users who wish to leave their working materials in the library. Furthermore, new event formats are planned, such as so-called "coffee lectures", which are brief lectures on scholarly work and the library, while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The reconstruction of the East European, Oriental and Asian Reading Room forms part of the continuous structural service improvements of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. The new, 400 m² big "PLAZA" on the ground floor, which offers 130 workplaces, was already opened in the autumn of 2018.

Dr. Dorothea Sommer, Deputy Director General of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek: "We endeavour to provide our users with a modern, up-to-date working environment at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. The continuous structural improvements substantially increase the attractiveness of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek as a place for learning and as a service provider for scholarship."

Contact

Dr. Gudrun Wirtz
Department of Eastern Europe
Phone:  +49 89 28638-2992
gudrun.wirtz@bsb.muenchen.de

Ulrike Rehusch
Press and Public Relations
Phone:  +49 89 28638-2057
presse@bsb-muenchen.de