Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek
View of the main building
The American Memorial Library ( GTC) is one of the largest libraries of Berlin. She is a gift from the USA to Berlin after enduring blockade (1948/1949) by the Soviet Union. The library was designed by American and German architects as Fritz Bornemann and Willy Kreuer. As a symbol of education and freedom of expression, the library was opened in 1954. Today it is part of the Central and Regional Library Berlin ( ZLB ).
General
The realized with the opening concept of the public library, a library that includes more public than meets the specific needs, transformed later. Towards a universal special library Today the library between a central (large) city library and a university library is to be settled. A simple classification as a public library it is not fair.
One of the features was the openness to the users who were able to access the book collections here, which were placed mostly free of charge. The closed magazines were located directly below the audience area and orders on the books found there were almost immediately taken care of. In the early 1980s enough room in the building no longer so stocks had to be placed in magazines outside. Since that time, there was an attempt to expand the library, which was also partially realized: The event hall was converted into a further open access area.
However, the library was not the Central City Library for Berlin because the city proper libraries / public libraries were organized in district. As a legal deposit library of Berlin, the University Library of the Free University of Berlin from 1965 to 1994 was in charge of the archiving of regional book production.
After the reunification of Germany, the Berlin City Library (formerly in East Berlin ) and the American Memorial Library (formerly in West Berlin) 1995 Central and Regional Library Berlin ( ZLB ) were summarized. This is also further from the houses of both libraries and is a foundation under public law. The ZLB is a member of VÖBB ( composite of Public Libraries in Berlin ).
On 17 September 2004, the America Memorial Library celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Stock offer
In addition to books, the library also offers a wide range of CD -ROMs, DVDs, CDs, cassettes, videos and sheet music for all ages. A special feature is the ability to borrow paintings and sculptures in the art library. Records were among the great innovations in the opening of the library.
The holdings of the Central and Regional Library Berlin is divided into the two houses American Memorial Library Berlin City Library and by subject. In the America Memorial Library contains the following fields:
- Music
- Arts, performing, media
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Literature, languages, countries
For children and adolescents, there is a separate department, the Child and Youth Library "Halle 's Comet ", with private access and own opening times.
Quotes
"Today we lay the foundation not only a building, but a symbol of our common cause and our common action, that - perhaps more importantly - shows how much the freedom we seek, basically a fairly simple, undemanding and personal affair. It is to learn the freedom to study, to seek the truth. It is the essential feature of a free society and the source of our greatest strength [ ... ] In America, the Public Library typifies this view. "
"The foundation is based on the unlimited freedom of the human spirit. For here we are not afraid to follow the truth in all ways and even to tolerate the error as long as reason can fight him free and unimpeded. "
Line
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- 1973-1978: Heinz Steinberg
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