Museum
University and State Library Tyrol
University and State Library Tyrol is a museum.
About University and State Library Tyrol
Overview & Identity
The University and State Library of Tyrol (Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol, ULB Tirol) serves as the central information hub for the Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck and functions as the state library for the Tyrolean region. Located in Innsbruck, Austria, it is the largest public academic library in Western Austria. As of 2024, the institution holds a collection exceeding 4.2 million documents, encompassing both printed and electronic media. Beyond its primary university role, it provides professional support to approximately 200 public libraries across Tyrol, coordinating their activities and resources.
Building & Architecture
Due to space constraints, a magazine extension was constructed for the main library between 1964 and 1967. A significant modernization and expansion project began in 2007, coinciding with a cooperation agreement with the State of Tyrol that solidified its dual identity as a University and State Library. In 2018, the library expanded its reach by opening the 'Haus der Musik' location in collaboration with the Mozarteum Salzburg and the Tyrolean State Conservatory. The most recent architectural addition is the Agnes-Heller-Haus on the Innrain Campus, which opened in 2023 to house the Library of Ancient Studies, designed with a focus on optimizing modern library workflows.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The library's Special Collections Department manages approximately 70,000 historical media units, including over 1,000 codices, with 690 dating from the 10th to the 19th centuries documented by HMML. Key holdings include medieval and early modern manuscripts, incunabula, printed works predating 1800, hand drawings, prints, maps, and globes. A significant portion of these items originated from monastic libraries closed in the 18th century, such as the Carthusian house of Allerengelberg and Stams Abbey, as well as from the Innsbruck imperial court and Ambras Castle. The collection also features a digitized reunion of the separated manuscripts of Stams Abbey.
Significance & Regional Role
As a state library, the ULB Tirol assumes responsibility for preserving and making accessible historical library collections throughout the Tyrolean region, acting as a competence center for 'Writing and Book Culture in Tyrol.' Its digitization efforts, accessible via the ULB: Digital portal, ensure the preservation of rare prints, theses, and newspapers. The library's historical significance is underscored by its role as a model for other institutions in the Habsburg monarchy and its continuous growth into a major repository for regional heritage, holding over 95,000 e-books and nearly 30,000 licensed electronic journals alongside its physical collections.