Festschrift

As a Festschrift (also Festgabe or liber amicorum ) refers to a publication from a festive occasion. The first commemorative of the world appeared with the contributions of many German poet 1640 in Leipzig on the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the invention of printing. It was edited by Gregor Ritzsch.

In librarianship, the academic term use predominates, usually dedicated to a scholar considers the collection of essays as a Festschrift. The contributions to this type of publication are usually written by students, friends or colleagues to a round of birthday honoree. The contributions shall be accompanied by very often a tribute to the honorees with photo and be as complete as possible font directory. Therefore, they are regarded as an important source of the history of science.

The question, on which occasions a hard handover is to be created is answered differently. The Association of German constitutional law teacher was under the initiative of HP Ipsen issued a recommendation to publish Commemorative until the 70th birthday, but could not prevail. Before 60th Birthday Commemorative are rarely published; an exception is about the Festschrift for the 40th birthday of Heinrich Himmler. Some scientists are also honored with several such hard gifts, it was published for Rudolph of Laun at its 65th, 70th, 80th and 90th birthday a Festschrift.

The custom of the 50th anniversary Doctor to publish a Festschrift, is no longer in fashion. The screen that appears after a person's death Commemorative be referred to as Memorial or Memorial Volumes. Occasionally, the collection of his own essays the honored with the title Festschrift is decorated. In addition to explicit Commemorative works may also include a dedication.

Not only individuals but also institutions will be honored for their anniversaries this way. For example, there appeared a four-volume Festschrift on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Federal Court and a Festschrift for the 225th anniversary of the publishing house CH Beck.

In Anglo-American countries also encountered in English-language publications sometimes the German name Festschrift. In English Commemorative often called essays in honor of ...

The issue of Commemorative is certainly not without controversy. As criticism lack of selectivity and strong heterogeneity of the contributions are given. Some authors " recycle " for example essays that have been previously rejected by magazine editors. Further criticism is that journals are taken off essays, which supposedly would have the consequence that these essays are less readily available in libraries.

In his satirical novel The scale Festschrift ( Klopfer and Meyer Verlag, Tübingen 2004) the German scholar and linguist Werner Zillig sees the work highly critical of such a publication.

Proof

The bibliographic evidence of paid employment literature that is published in Commemorative International Annual Bibliography of Commemorative serves ( IJBF ), which is now offered with a data set from 1986 as a cost- based database of KG Saur.