Library anniversary

2022 is a particularly eventful year for the Gotha Research Library. We are celebrating the 375th anniversary of our founding. Under the motto "Books Move", you can expect a series of events on site and online. In April we will open the anniversary exhibition, in May we invite you to a library festival and in October to a festive event. There will also be workshops, presentations, the Gotha Library Talks and other opportunities for encounters.

The anniversary year is also a turning point in the history of the research library and a time of great challenges. We are moving a large part of our books out of the east tower of Friedenstein Palace, where the library has been housed since the end of the 17th century, in order to renovate the building. At the same time, we want to create optimal opportunities for our users in the library and in virtual space to continue researching and working with each other and with our outstanding library objects and collections.

We look forward to welcoming you in Gotha in 2022 or to one of our many events on the web.

 

Annual programme for the library anniversary

Event highlights

Our library anniversary programme includes a variety of interesting and informative events, which you can find out about on our events page. In addition to our large exhibition on the theme "Books move", we would like to particularly recommend some highlights of the programme:

 

14 May 2022: PEN-Talk "With all our might. War, Peace, PEN"

PEN-Talk: "With all our might. War, Peace, PEN"

Fireworks

Saturday, 14 May 2022, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friedenstein Palace, outdoor facilities

The PEN Centre Germany and the Gotha Research Library of the University of Erfurt invite you to a special event: As part of the PEN Centre's annual conference in Gotha, a talk will take place at Friedenstein Castle on Saturday, 14 May, at 7 pm. Under the title "With all our might. War, Peace, PEN", the Ukrainian writer Marjana Gaponenko, the Austrian writer Eva Menasse, the political scientist, writer and former PEN President Johano Strasser and the journalist and current President of the PEN Centre Deniz Yücel will discuss. Journalist and blogger Sascha Lobo will lead the discussion.

Due to limited seating capacity, the Gotha Research Library asks for written registration at e-mail: bibliothek.gotha@uni-erfurt.de. Seats will be allocated in the order in which registrations are received. Representatives of the press are kindly requested to register as well. The event will take place in the inner courtyard of Friedenstein Castle and in the castle church in case of bad weather.

14 June 2022: New Book Depository for the Gotha Research Library. More than Functional Fulfilment. An Architectural Search.

New Book Depository for the Gotha Research Library. More than Functional Fulfilment. An Architectural Search.

Design of a student. © Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Leonard Weber, Lehrstuhl für Entwerfen und komplexe Gebäudelehre

Tuesday, 14 June 2022, 7 p.m.
Presentation and discussion
Herzog-Ernst-Cabinet, Friedenstein Castle
Concept and direction: Prof. Jörg Springer, Sebastian Schröter, Martin Pasztori, Dr. Kathrin Paasch

Part of the exhibition "Books Move" is the presentation of works from a student design project at the Bauhaus University Weimar, which took place under the direction of Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Springer in the winter semester 2021/2022. The project provides remarkable ideas for the moving question of how a supplementary building that is urgently needed for the Gotha Research Library could architecturally enrich the area of Friedenstein Castle and the urban space and make the library more visible and tangible in its special significance. At the event, the students will present their work and engage in discussion with interested parties.

2 July 2022: Open Day of the Perthes Collection

Open Day of the Perthes Collection

Saturday, 2 July 2022
Place: Perthes Forum, Justus-Perthes-Strasse 5, 99867 Gotha

As part of the 375th anniversary of the Gotha Research Library, the Perthes Collection will once again open its doors to the interested public on 2 July. The focus of the day is the important Gotha cartographer August Petermann (1822-1878), whose 200th birthday is being celebrated this year. In six special guided tours, Petermann's personality and work will be presented on the basis of outstanding original testimonies of his work.

The tours will take place at the following times: 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 13.00, 14.00. The number of participants per tour is limited to twelve. The Corona rules in force at the time must be observed. The guided tours are free of charge. Donations are requested for the preservation of the research library's holdings.

Registrations for the guided tours are accepted as of now and exclusively by telephone at 0361 737 5581 from 9 am to 3 pm.

13 July 2022: "I unpack my library". Gotha Talks on Book Culture

"I unpack my library". Gotha Talks on Book Culture

Alberto Manguel

Wednesday, 13 July 2022, 6.15 p.m.
Venue: Hall of Mirrors, Friedenstein Castle

  • Guest: Alberto Manguel (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • Moderator: Andreas Platthaus (Leipzig/Frankfurt am Main)
  • Organisation: Dr. Guido Naschert (FK)

An event organised by the Friends of the Gotha Research Library e.V. and the Literary Society of Thuringia e.V.

Alberto Manguel (born 1948) is a citizen of the world. At home in several languages, he has worked in Buenos Aires, Paris, Milan, London and Toronto as a publisher's editor, literary lecturer and translator. His book 'A History of Reading', translated into all world languages, was awarded the Prix Medicis in 1998. In 2018, Alberto Manguel was awarded the Gutenberg Prize of the city of Mainz. His most recent titles are 'A History of Curiosity' (2016) and 'The Hidden Library' (2018). The event will be held in English and simultaneously translated.

Registration is requested at info@fk-fbgth.de.

18 May and 14 September 2022: Guided tour of the library tower

Guided tour of the library tower

Wednesday, 18 May and 14 September 2022, 5 p.m.
The Library in the East Tower of Friedenstein Palace. Tour of the Building and Library History
Meeting point: Entrance to the Gotha Research Library, first floor of the ducal staircase
Guided tours by Udo Hopf (architectual historian) and Dr. Kathrin Paasch

The two guides have explored the eventful building history of the East Tower and invite you to a tour of three of the four floors of the tower.

17 September 2022: Concert of the Thuringian Police Orchestra

Concert

Saturday, 17 September 2022, 3 p.m.
The Gotha Court Kapellmeister Johann Heinrich Walch (1776-1855)
Thuringian Police Orchestra conducted by Christian Beyer
Hall of Mirrors, Friedenstein Palace

Johann Heinrich Walch was a musician, composer and kapellmeister at the princely court in Gotha. The orchestra will play works from the repertoire preserved in the Gotha Research Library.

We would be pleased about your participation. Please register at the following email address: veranstaltungen.fb@uni-erfurt.de

22 October 2022: Celebration event

Celebration event "375 years of the Gotha Research Library”

Change of date: The event will not take place on 15 October 2022 as originally announced, but on Saturday, 22 October 2022, 2 pm.

Hall of Mirrors, Friedenstein Palace

The event is not open to the public.

News

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The Gotha Research Library of the University of Erfurt will continue its digital event series "Gotha Manuscript Talks" in the fall. This time, the focus is on the origins of manuscripts beyond Europe. The first event is on October 12.

Next events

21
May
Gotha Research Library (CG1 / Friedenstein Castle Gotha)