10.07.2009
The best libraries can be found in the German Southwest

Germany’s best libraries are in Baden-Württemberg. In this year’s BIX library benchmarking index Baden-Württemberg came first place in seven of eight different rankings. On the index for academic libraries the University of Technology, Economics and Design in Konstanz (Hochschule Konstanz Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung) won first prize in the universities of applied sciences category. Top place for universities with a central library went to the University of Konstanz. In the third category, the largest universities in German-speaking countries, the University of Göttingen was awarded first place with Heidelberg successfully defending its second place from last year. Moreover, the first ten academic libraries also include the libraries at the Universities of Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Tübingen.

Among public libraries, which are assigned to five categories according to their size, libraries in Reutlingen, Göppingen, Biberach/Riß, Freiberg/Neckar and Abtsgmünd all won first places. A total of 80 university libraries and 177 public libraries took part in this year’s competition run by the German Library Association for the tenth time. Libraries in Austria as well as one each from Switzerland and South Tyrol also participated in the project.

“With 28 million visitors a year in 2008 the public libraries are the most highly frequented educational and cultural institutions in the state,” commented the Chairman of the Baden-Württemberg Library Association, State Secretary Georg Wacker, on the outstanding scores achieved by libraries in south-west Germany. This means that the libraries have three times more visitors than the premier league football stadiums throughout the whole of Germany. With their programme of media and cultural services, libraries make a substantial contribution to enhancing the image and attractiveness of Baden-Württemberg.