Vorarlberg State Library

The Vorarlberg State Library is a regional academic library that serves as a center for research and education in Bregenz, the capital city of the westernmost federal state of Austria. It was founded in 1904 as a branch of the Vorarlberg State Archives and became an independent institution in 1977. The library’s collections focus on the history, culture, and literature of Vorarlberg and its neighboring regions, as well as on various academic disciplines. The library also hosts special collections, such as the Franz Michael Felder Archives, the Radio and Television Archives, and the Music Collection.

Building and Location

The library is located in a historic building that dates back to the 14th century and was originally a castle belonging to the counts of Bregenz. The castle was later renovated and expanded by various owners, such as Baron Ernest von Pöllnitz and the Benedictine monks of St. Gallus. The library moved into the former monastery in 1985 and has since occupied the south wing and the library tract of the complex. The library also uses the former Cupola Room of the monastery, which was restored to its original state, as a reading and exhibition room. The library building is situated in the Seestraße, near the Kunsthaus Bregenz and the vorarlberg museum, forming a cultural triangle in the city center.

Collections and Catalogs

The library’s collections contain about 500,000 media items, including books, journals, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, audiovisual materials, and digital resources. The library acquires and preserves materials that are relevant to the research and education needs of the region, as well as to the general public. The library’s main collection areas are Vorarlberg regional studies and literature, history, art, philosophy, religion, sociology, psychology, education, and natural sciences. The library also has special collections that document the cultural heritage and artistic production of Vorarlberg and its surroundings, such as the Franz Michael Felder Archives, which contain the works and correspondence of the 19th-century writer and social reformer; the Radio and Television Archives, which record the regional events and history through audiovisual media; and the Music Collection, which offers a wide range of music recordings and scores.

The library’s collections can be accessed through various catalogs and databases, such as the v*Find, which is the online public access catalog (OPAC) of the library and allows users to search for and reserve items; the Index Search, which is a meta-search engine that covers various electronic resources, such as e-books, e-journals, and databases; the Recommendations, which are curated lists of new and interesting items in various subject areas; and the Subject Areas, which are thematic portals that provide access to specialized resources and information in specific fields.

Services and Facilities

The library offers a range of services and facilities to support the users’ information needs and learning activities, such as the loan service, which allows users to borrow items for a certain period of time; the interlibrary loan service, which enables users to request items from other libraries in Austria and abroad; the acquisition request service, which allows users to suggest items for purchase by the library; the newsletter service, which informs users about the latest news and events of the library; and the FAQ service, which answers the most frequently asked questions about the library.

The library also provides various facilities and equipment for the users’ convenience and comfort, such as the studios, which are group work rooms that can be booked online; the teaching library, which is a learning space that offers workshops, tutorials, and consultations on information literacy and research skills; the forum, which is a communication platform that allows users to ask questions and share opinions with the library staff and other users; the volare texts and images, which are digital collections of Vorarlberg literature and photography; and the shop, which sells books, souvenirs, and accessories related to the library and its collections.

Opening Hours and Admission

The library is open from Monday to Friday, from 08:30 to 18:30, and on Saturday, from 09:00 to 12:00. The library is closed on Sundays and public holidays. The admission to the library is free, but users need to register for a library card (VLB-Card) to use the loan service and other services. The registration can be done online or at the library. The library card is valid for one year and can be renewed online or at the library. The library also offers guided tours, audio guides, and educational programs for groups and individuals who want to learn more about the library and its collections.

Bregenz, Austria