Universitätsbibliothek Würzburg

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the book holdings grew through the purchase of private book collections, e.g. of the canons of Augsburg and Eichstätt Johann Georg von Werdenstein, the Würzburg Cathedral Vicar Paul Wenger and the Augsburg citizen Johann Baptist Welser.

The most valuable manuscript which the library has acquired since then (for 1.35 million DM with special funds from the Bavarian Ministry of Science and Art) is a copy of the Bischofs-Chronik by Lorenz Fries.

(see Sosylus of Lacedaemon-papyrus), Philipp Franz Horn (1781–1856), head nurse at the Juliusspital, and the physician Johann Lukas Schönlein.

[2] Through donations and purchases – for example the Fürstlich Leiningen's Library Amorbach [de] – the total stock grew to 370,000 volumes in the following 100 years.

[4] One of the highlights of the anniversary year was the exhibition "Ivory & Eternity", in which over 70 top pieces from the special collections were presented in a unique compilation.

In addition to the printed holdings, users have access to an extensive electronic offering (e-book's, e-journals, e-newspapers).

The cultural-historical significance of the University Library is reflected in its special collections of important historical manuscripts and prints.

An information management system is available for enquiries, requests, acquisition suggestions and criticism (Ask the UB, based on OTRS).

3000 incunabula but also numerous prints from the years before 1801, as well as papyri, autographs, estates, original graphics, historical maps and plans.

One of the greatest treasures of the collections is the Kiliansevangeliar[5] and the Fuldaer Evangeliar with the Würzburg market description as well as the round book of the prince bishop Julius Echter.