University The universities have played an extraordinary role in the de velopment of modern Germany. This has been due in part to their large and well equipped libraries and to the German research methods which enforce constant reference to their collections. The oldest German univer sity library is probably that of Heidelberg, founded in 1386. Its modern development, however, dates from the purchase of the private library of the scholar Grmvius by the Elector Palatine Johann Wilhelm, in 1707, who incor porated with it the remnant of the ancient library. Other collections were received from dissolved monasteries and other sources, and by careful purchases, until it comprehends at present 500,000 volumes, 200,000 theses and 3,530 manuscripts.
The UnNersity of Halle (Friedrichs-Uni versitat Halle-Wittenberg) possesses an excep tionally well-organized library, rich in early printed books and research literature. Its foundation was laid in the purchase of the library of Prof. J. G. Simon in 1696, by dupli cates from Berlin and the collections of Bergen Convent. The merging of the University of Wittenberg with Halle in 1816 resulted in another large increase. The collections now number about 300,000 volumes and 2,016 manu scripts. Another admirably equipped library is that of the University of Gottingen, founded by George H in 1734. The famous bibliog rapher Heyne vas librarian for 50 years, and to this fact is due the completeness of its col lections and their excellent catalogues. Heyne's successors were equally devoted. The library contains many valuable special collections, among them those of the historian Heeren, of von Billow, Uffenhach and J. C. Jahn. The library is particularly rich in philology, history and science, and contains about 619,102 vol umes and 6,940 manuscripts. The united Royal and University Library of Konigsberg was founded by the Margrave Albert of Branden burg, 1st Duke of Prussia, in 1534. The library at first was called the Schlossbibliothek. It numbers some 318,000 volumes and 1,500 manu scripts.
The Jena University Library (270,000 vols.) was founded by the transfer of books from Wittenberg in 1548. The Grand Duke Karl Augustus of Saxe-Weimar was a patron of it and Goethe took great interest in its de velopment. Another splendidly equipped uni
versity library is that of Leipzig, containing some 610,000 volumes and 6,500 manuscripts. It was formed out of monastic collections in 1543 and is particularly rich in history, the sciences and classics. Among other university libraries of Germany may be noted Erlangen (254,083 vols.), formed by the Margrave Friedrich, in 1743, out of the collections of the margraves of Anspach and dissolved monas teries; Breslau (402,767 vols.), founded in 1811 from earlier collections and from the library of the former University of Frankfort on-Main ; Bonn (376,800 vols.), founded 1818 by the purchase of the collections of Prof. C. G. Harless and those of the former University of Duisburg• Marburg (265,000 vols.), founded in 1527 by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse; Rostock (294,000 vols.), founded by Grossherzog Al brecht of Mecklenburg in 1552, based in part upon the collections of the short-lived Univer sity of Bfitzow; Wilrzburg (400,000 vols.), founded by the Prince-Bishop Julius Echter v. Mespelbrunn; Giessen (261,747 vols.), formed of a collection purchased in Prague in 1605, and Tubingen (555,283 vols.), founded in 1477, based originally in monastic collections.
Special Germany has many ex cellent special libraries, of which the most im portant are at Berlin, the collections in law, medicine and technology being particularly note worthy. As might be expected, the military collections are impressive, the Bibliothek des grossen Gen'eralstabes, Berlin, numbering about 100,000 volumes, and that of Kreigsalcademie about 105,000 volumes. The majority of the schools of technology have large and well selected libraries. Consult der deutschen Bibliotheken' • Ebert, u. beschreibung der K. Oeffentlichen Bibliothek zu Dresden > (Leipzig 1822) ; Hortzschansky, (Die K. Bibliothek zu Berlin' (Berlin 1908); Jaeschke, ; ( Jahrbuch der deutschen Bibliotheicen> (Leipzig 1902) ; Petz holdt, der bibliotheken Deutsch lands mit einschluss von Oesterreich - Ungarn u. der Schweiz' (3 vols., Dresden 1875).