Royal Library of Belgium
The Royal Library of Belgium (also: Royal Library at Brussels, Dutch:. Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, French: Bibliothèque royale de Belgique ) is the national library of the Kingdom of Belgium. It is located in Brussels.
Order and inventory collection
As a national research library collects the Royal Library of Belgium, all published in the field of the federal state of Belgium publications and works of Belgian authors and writings on Belgium, published in other countries. The library acquires publications, to keep them in their collections and make them accessible to the public. In particular, it addresses the information needs of the scientific field. In addition, the Royal Library of Belgium published the Belgian bibliography.
The collection consists of printed works that appear as monographs, and periodicals such as newspapers and magazines and documents of public organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union. Add special collections are precious works, manuscripts, coins, and graphics.
The building
The present building of the Royal Library was built in 1954-1969 after a design by the architect Maurice Houyoux, Roland Delers Belle and Jacques Mans. Of the 67,000 m² of floor space, 8000 m² visitors are determined. A large part of the archives located in underground parts of buildings. As part of the Mont des Arts, the house occupies one of its sides.
History
Since the 15th century made the Burgundian dukes gather an extensive manuscript collection. This Burgundian library possessed at the time of the death of Philip the Good already around 900 manuscripts. Since 1559 the collection was in Coudenbergpaleis and has since been called the Royal Library.
When in 1731 the Coudenbergpaleis was destroyed by fire, most manuscripts were saved. During the occupation of Brussels by French troops in 1746, parts were taken to Paris, only a portion of these stocks was returned in 1770. 1754 covered the remaining stocks in Brussels in the Domus Isabellae, which was located in today's Baron Hortastraat. 1772, the library was opened to the public.
1794 numerous manuscripts and other precious works have been brought at the direction of the Commissioners of the French Government in Paris again. 1803, the remaining collection was transferred to the city of Brussels. By the decision of the Congress of Vienna to Paris brought some of the works had to be returned to Brussels.
The Government of the United Netherlands notified the library 1815 into two collections. The manuscripts were state property as Burgundian Library, the printing units remained with the City of Brussels. Meanwhile Belgian - - 1842 the published works of the State were transferred.
On 19 June 1837 Belgian government founded the Royal Library of Belgium. To this end, the collection Karel Van Hulthem was purchased with 70,000 books from Ghent. In Paleis van de Nijverheid the library could be opened on May 21, 1839 for visitors.
At the suggestion of King Leopold III. and Queen Elizabeth decided the Belgian government to have to build a new library building in 1935, which should bear the name of King Albert I.. 1954, the foundation stone was laid for this building, which was inaugurated on 17 February 1969 as the Koninklijke Bibliotheek Albert I, Albertina short, solemn.
Library Management
Main conservators
General
- Since 2005, Patrick Lefèvre