Historical Building
Located at the site where the University of Göttingen was founded and also its oldest edifice, the Historical Building now holds the library’s special collections and serves as a key centre for historical scholarship.
Quick Overview
Collections
At the Historical Building, our team provides expert support for research and teaching while using our collections. We offer individual consultations, practical training sessions, and themed events.
Reading Room
Visit the reading room in the Historical Building to explore the library's historical holdings and special collections.
Göttingen Digitisation Centre
At the Göttingen Digitisation Centre (GDZ), we digitise books, manuscripts, maps, personal papers and archival materials of the SUB Göttingen, making them accessible online. Reproductions may be requested for a fee.
Conservation Workshop
The conservation workshop in the Historical Building helps preserve our historical collections. Internships are available to qualified applicants.
ARCANAlab
At ARCANAlab , we use techniques such as multispectral imaging and infrared reflectography to recover damaged or illegible texts. We also support researchers with digital reconstruction of cultural heritage objects and material analysis.
GippLab
The Historical Building is home to the Chair for Scientific Information Analytics, headed by Prof. Gipp. His research areas include artificial intelligence, data science, and information retrieval.
Reading Room
Our quiet and comfortably equipped reading room provides access to the historical collections and the map collection. You can also make use of our extensive reference library, which offers specialist literature on history and cultural studies.
The reading room features several workspaces for focused, quiet study. You can find out how to best prepare for your visit and what facilities awaits you on our site Visit to the reading room.
You can reach the reading room via the staircase on the ground floor of the Prinzenstraße section of the building.
Pauliner Church
The Pauliner Church is the only part of the Historic Building that dates back to the Middle Ages and is Göttingen’s oldest sacred building. Originally built as a Dominican monastery church, it has served as the university church since the founding of Georgia Augusta. In 1812, the Gothic building was divided by the addition of a intermediary ceiling and integrated into the Göttingen University Library. Today, it houses comprehensive historic holdings from the library’s founding collection.
Lectures and events are held regularly in the Pauliner Church. Covering 680m2 with row seating, it accomodates between 80 to 200 guests.
Alfred Hessel Hall
Until the 1950s, the Alfred Hessel Hall was the reading room of the Göttingen State and University Library. Following extensive renovations in the 2000s, it was transformed into a versatile event space for lectures, conferences, and workshops. Since its reopening in 2012, the hall has been named in honor of Alfred Hessel, a Göttingen medievalist and librarian. In 1935, Hessel was dismissed and forcibly retired because of his Jewish heritage. He was denied access to the university and library, and his role as the main author of the history of the Göttingen University Library was diminished.
Alfred Hessel Hall is used for lectures, conferences and event series. With 280 m² of space, it can accommodate 80 to 200 people in row seating.
Bülow Hall
Bülow Hall is located approximately on the site of the library's first reading room, established in 1734. Around 30 years later, the library had expanded to occupy the entire upper floor of the former Kollegiengebäude. From its modest beginnings with roughly 12,000 books, it had grown by the late 18th century into one of Europe’s most important libraries.
Bülow Hall is used for workshop, conferences and teaching sessions. With 100 m² of space, it offers seating for up to 30 people in a conference setup with tables and chairs.
Accessibility
Access to the building
The accessible entrance to the building is located on the left side of the Lichtenberghof. The door can be opened using a push button or, upon request, via the intercom. Please also use the intercom if you require further assistance. There is an elevator directly opposite to the door that will take you to the main foyer.
Parking spaces for people with a valid disabled parking permit are available on Prinzenstraße.
Access to the reading room
When you exit the elevator in the main foyer, you will find an intercom on the right-hand side marked "Theke Lesesaal Alte Drucke". Please press the button to notify our team in the reading room. We will pick you up and accompany you to the reading room. Our team is also happy to assist you with any questions on site.
An accessible toilet is available in the reading room.
Access to the conference rooms and the Pauliner Church
After leaving the elevator in the main foyer, turn right. Near the Lichtenberghof entrance area, you will find another elevator that takes you to the first floor. From there, turn right for the Pauliner Church and left for the event spaces.