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Library⁺

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History of the library⁺

The history of Fachhochschule Dortmund dates back to the 19th century. Since the beginning of teaching at the predecessor institutions, books have been used to impart knowledge. Initially, however, these books were only available to lecturers. Students were dependent on their lecture notes or had to obtain specialist literature themselves. The path from the small book collection to today's library⁺ with online research, e-books and book scanners was long and characterized by numerous relocations. Books and staff followed the relocation of the respective institutions and faculties.

Development of the library⁺ (1890 to today)

1890

Foundation of the "Königliche Werkmeisterschule für Maschinenbauer" in Sonnenstraße as the oldest predecessor institution of today's Fachhochschule Dortmund

  • Books are set up in the form of handbooks in the staff room
1904

Foundation of the "Dortmund School for Craftsmen and Arts and Crafts" as the predecessor institution of today's Faculties of Architecture and Design

  • A rich collection of old books from the founding years is still available today in the Emil-Figge-Str. 44 (Architecture) and Max-Ophüls-Platz (Design) libraries.
1971

Founding of Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and thus also of today's University of Applied Sciences Library

  • Conception as a lending library with open stacks
1976 The library administration moves into the new university library building at Vogelpothsweg 76
1986

Move to the rooms in Emil-Figge-Str. 44 on the North Campus

  • Departmental library for the Faculties of Social Work, Social Pedagogy and Business Studies
  • Relocation of the business collection from the Max-Ophüls-Platz location to Emil-Figge-Str. 44
  • Relocation of 12,000 volumes of business literature to the Central Library of the University of Dortmund due to lack of space (until the end of the 1990s)
2001 Relocation of the computer science collection from the Departmental Library Sonnenstraße to the Departmental Library Emil-Figge-Str. 44
2002 Relocation of the Departmental Library of Architecture from the South Campus to residential containers behind the Emil-Figge-Str. 40 building on the North Campus as a temporary solution
2012

Move to the extended premises in Emil-Figge-Str. 44

  • Consolidation of the former Departmental Libraries of Architecture and Applied Social Sciences, Business Studies, Computer Science and Library Administration at this location
2014 Expansion, renovation and redesign of the library at the Max-Ophüls-Platz location.
2014 Introduction of RFID technology for media booking and security, initially at the Max-Ophüls-Platz location
2015 Introduction of RFID technology for media booking and security at the Sonnenstraße location
2016 Renovation and refurbishment of the Sonnenstraße location
2016 Introduction of RFID technology for media booking and security at the Emil-Figge-Str. 44 location
2018 Introduction of the new literature search engine RiO - Recherche in Orange
2018 Installation and commissioning of a return machine at the Emil-Figge-Str. 44 location
2019 Introduction of openly accessible shelves and areas for self-collection of reserved and ordered media at all locations
2019 Installation and commissioning of a checkout machine at the Emil-Figge-Str. 44 location
2022 New library website
2022 Switch to the cloud-based library system "Alma" from ExLibris
2023 Expansion of the range of technical devices for lending by FH members
2025 Redesign or refurnishing of individual sections of all library locations
2025 Opening of the "BibLounge" as a learning, lounge and event space at the Sonnenstraße location
2025 Launch of the seed library
2025 Opening of the fifth group study room at the Emil-Figge-Str. 44 location
2026 Expansion of the team and services and change of the institution's name to Library⁺ : Service Center for Learning, Teaching and Media
2026 Launch of the open library concept