Switzerland

Directory Information

 Formal Name:            Schweizerische Landesbibliothek - National Library of Switzerland.
 Name of Librarian:     Dr Jean-Frederic Jauslin
 Address:                    Hallwylstr 15, 3003 Bern
 Phone:    (031) 3228911:     Fax:     3228463
 E-mail:    iz-helvetica@slb.admin.ch

History & Collections

The Swiss National Library shows the influence of historical factors through several characteristics. It was not founded until 1895, and initially its role was limited to acquiring Helvetica (works concerning Switzerland and those of Swiss authorship, as well as works printed in Switzerland) after 1848. Since legal deposit had not been adopted, "free deposit" was established in 1915 between the Library and the two associations of Swiss booksellers and editors, under which the associations submit one copy of each new publication to the Library. Any Swiss national or any person over 15 years of age
residing in Switzerland can borrow books.

Over the years the Library's functions have been augmented. It manages a bookstock of about three million items. including publications of official Swiss, as well as international, organizations. It administers the Swiss Union Catalogue, which indexes more than seven million foreign publications held in 300 libraries.


Sources:

World guide to libraries. New York: Saur, 1998.
World encyclopedia of library and information services. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association,c1993.