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The 1st Austrian Library Congress took place in Innsbruck from May 2 to 5, 2023. The main topic of the conference was „Working environments – Realities and visions“. This congress report presents presentations on the topics of data guidelines in German-language library science journals, bibliometrics as a service of the university library and information science consulting services by liaison librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In diesem Artikel soll gezeigt werden, dass Bibliothekar*innen heutzutage ein verlässliches Instrument in der Hand haben, um auf einen Blick den „Marktwert" eines in Buchform publizierten wissenschaftlichen Gesamtwerkes einzuschätzen. Dieses hier diskutierte und getestete Instrument ist „WorldCat Identities", ein frei zugängliches bibliometrisches Instrument von OCLC WorldCat, das heute in der szientometrischen und bibliometrischen Literatur schon als geeignete Messskala für den Einfluss eines Gesamtwerkes benutzt wird. Gerade für die Geisteswissenschaften und die kontinentaleuropäischen Sozialwissenschaften, wo Zeitschriftenaufsätze noch nicht jene überragende Rolle in der Einschätzung einer wissenschaftlichen Leistung spielen, bietet dieses System ungeahnte und für die Bibliothekswissenschaft strategische Möglichkeiten, sich bei der Objektivierung der Beurteilung der Bedeutung eines Gesamtwerkes einzubringen. Der Beitrag stellt allgemeine Aspekte des Systems „WorldCat Identities" vor und diskutiert anschließend die Anwendung in der Politikwissenschaft. Grundlage ist ein Sample von über 100 habilitierten österreichischen Politikwissenschaftler*innen und Preisträger*innen des Skytte-Preises. The article argues that librarians today have a reliable tool at hand to assess the "market value" of a body of scholarly work published in book form at one glance. "WorldCat Identities" is a freely available bibliometric tool under OCLC WorldCat already used for scientometric and bibliometric literature as an apt instrument to measure the global influence of complete works. Humanities and continental European social sciences, where journal papers do not (yet) play a major role in assessing the academic performance and achievement of researchers, could particularly benefit from this system, which, from the perspective of library science also offers an amazing strategic opportunity to get involved in assessing the importance of a body of work more objectively. The paper introduces general aspects of the "WorldCat Identities" system and discusses its application in political science contexts, based on a sample of more than 100 habilitated Austrian political scientists and laureates of the Skytte Prize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education for academic librarians in Austria is organised by several universities based on a continuing education programme on Library and Information Studies. Current changes on the legal regulations of this programme interfere with the difficult general situation in present times of crisis. The paper shows how effects can be tackled and discusses several approaches for an adapted curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to other German-speaking countries, the public library system in Austria is characterised by several special characteristics, which are reflected not least in the curricula of the educational courses for public library staff; on the one hand, there is the very high proportion of volunteer librarians and on the other, there are hardly any points of contact with academic libraries. As a result, there are separate educational courses for both volunteers and librarians already employed at public libraries, which are clearly differentiated from the training offered to staff of academic libraries. Through the courses, which are specifically oriented towards the target audience and the framework conditions of public libraries, a remarkably high degree of professionalisation can be achieved in an intensive and comparatively short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the question of the extent to which the competence profile of the teaching librarian and the associated focus on teaching information literacy in academic libraries need to be updated against the background of accelerated social transformation processes. Libraries seem to be predestined as central (learning) sites of future workers, researchers, and innovators for the (partial) development of competences such as future skills. The following implications, however, refer on the one hand to the curricula of library study programmes themselves and on the other hand concern the cooperation across traditional organisational boundaries, as can be observed in third-space institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where do we stand today in the training of academic librarians in Zurich? The development of society and the digital transformation are changing the professional field. Based on this, two future fields of the two continuing education programmes in library and information science (MAS) and data management and information technologies (CAS) in Zurich are discussed: communication and public relations and data management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University Library Hildesheim has changed its training concept due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of relying on introductory events booked by the instructors, various cooperative formats have been developed that rely on the voluntary participation of students. New digital formats have been developed, including interactive workshops and collaborations with other institutions. The text describes two workshops offered by the University Library (UB) and the Reading and Writing Center (LSZ). The first workshop focuses on the use of the UB and includes an introduction to the website, the Hildesheim Catalog (HilKat), and various research techniques. The second workshop deals with academic writing and covers topics such as literature research, citation, and the use of reference management programs such as Citavi and Zotero. Both workshops were well received and will be repeated in the winter semester of 2022. The challenge was to create joint presentation slides, as the approach of the UB and the LSZ is different. The collaboration between the University Library Hildesheim and other institutions has proven successful in reaching new students and offering training opportunities. By using various channels such as websites, blogs, Facebook, and Instagram, the workshops could be effectively promoted. Digital training enabled increased interaction and easier participation for students. The author of the article, Dr. Ninon Franziska Frank, is a subject librarian for educational, social, and economic sciences at the University Library Hildesheim. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Approaches to Liaison Librarianship: Innovations in Organization and Engagement" by Robin Canuel and Chad Crichton discusses the changes and challenges in academic libraries. The authors present various approaches and initiatives to establish a good relationship between librarians and the faculty of an academic unit. Topics such as science communication, information literacy, and public relations are addressed. The book "Approaches to Liaison Librarianship" provides valuable information and case studies for library staff who want to reshape their position. It is worth reading for librarians in management, profession, or training. [Extracted from the article]

For many years August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof (1705-1759) had the plan to write a book on newts, salamanders and lizards (he called them Eydexen) following his famous frog book. This plan never could be realized, but he had already produced a number of original paintings for a number of species. These were carefully preserved and, starting in 1797, copied by Johann Hans in straßburg under the supervision of professor Johann Hermann. however the originals had to be given to Steinische Buchhandlung in 1799. It is unknown how they ended up in the University library of Erlangen Nürnberg were they were discovered finally in 1930. So it was a big surprise when in 2019 in an auction in Berlin an original painting signed by Rösel of a fire salamander was offered. The quality of this painting is as high as the quality of the famous paintings in the frog book. For this painting two black and white pre-studies are known. The original painting could be acquired at this auction by one of the authors of this article who had it professionally repaired. In this article not only the history of the preparing work for the book on Eydexen is described but also this newly discovered painting is described and published here for the first time after it was produced around 250 years ago by Rösel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When reopening the oldest public library of the city of Bern, the now Münstergasse Library, in the year 2016, a reference collection containing regional publications has been added. The so-called Bernensia library assembles works from different groups of themes related to the city and the Canton of Bern, which are placed according to specially created systematics. With the help of the physical web, the complementary online offer of Bern subjects can be reached from the Bernensia library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Berichte zur Wissenschafts-Geschichte is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Starting off with a review of the development of the tasks and topics of subject librarianship this article points out the skills and competencies that will be required of Subject Librarians in the future in order to support teachers and especially researchers in handling data and information in an ever more evolving e-science environment. It is emphasized that this field of competence which has been declared dead many times is currently getting the chance to gain new importance. Successful implementation of these new ideas will primarily depend on the willingness to accept new challenges and to dismiss some traditional views on the remit of Subject Librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University libraries in Germany spend a lot of time and human resources in training students in information literacy. But the success is not as high as desirable. After their studies the graduates start working in several organizations. There they find different resources which require an adapted strategy in information literacy. For the reorganization of those new strategies, the learning process of information literacy during the studies has to be changed. Defining the task and the need of information should be the first step, which also is the starting point of a personal knowledge strategy in lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 21st, 2015 Manfred Lube will celebrate his 70th birthday. He started his career as a librarian in 1971, as subject librarian for German Studies at Graz University Library. In the 17 years as director of Klagenfurt University Library he was the driving force behind its modernisation and increasing user-friendliness. Retirement hasn't lessened his devotion to the library - since October 2008 Manfred Lube is in charge o f the Karl-Popper-Copyright Office. In his honour, the Karl-Popper-Foundation Klagenfurt is holding a symposium on the topic of „The Written Word“ from February 18-21, 2015: http://webmagazine.unitn.it/evento/sociologia/1548/the-written-word [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edeltraud Haas, head of library at the University Sankt Gallen, explains in an interview how the idea of a world record in book domino came up. She speaks about the effort to accomplish this project and the way the media reacted towards it. Furthermore Ms Haas presents the highlights of this action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of German philosopher and theologian Friedrich Samuel Bock is presented. Bock was born on May 20, 1716, in Königsberg, Germany, and studied at the University of Königsberg. Thereafter, he became a librarian at the university and later started teaching at the university. Bock wrote books on natural history, polemics, and transfer of knowledge. He died on September 30, 1785, in Königsberg.

Using the Humboldt University Library in Berlin as an example, this article examines the laws and regulations, enacted by the Soviet Military Administration and the GDR leadership, for the removal of National Socialistic and militaristic literature from academic libraries after World War II. In addition to the procedures and the bibliographic documentation of the enforced removal, the impact of the measures on daily library operations is also analyzed. Finally, the article addresses the return of the media in the 1990s and the consequences of the the removal that are felt to the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide the scientists with a stable, future-oriented service for their research results, since September 2012 TU Berlin has developed an infrastructure for research data. It shall guarantee the long-term storage and availability of research data and research publications that are generated in TU Berlin. The organizational and technical components of this infrastructure will be realized in a two year long, TU-wide project. The university library, the IT service center and the research department of TU Berlin have cooperated in this project. The following article presents the concept and informs about the status of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A speech delivered by Sigrid Jalkotzy-Deger is presented, delivered in honor of librarian and civil servant Edith Stumpf on the occasion of her being awarded the Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Austrian Cross of Merit for Scholarship and the Arts) on May 23, 2013, in Vienna, Austria. Issues raised include Stumpf's book "Amor und Eros: Eine Untersuchung des Wortfeldes 'Liebe' im Lateinischen und Griechischen," her work as a subject librarian for classics at the Universitätsbibliothek (university library) of Vienna, and her activities in the area of international librarianship.

This article outlines the milestones in the development of the Austrian library education. The most important changes that are often related to the technological development are described. Every professional librarian in Austria knows his or her formation; however, often there is no awareness of the continual change process in this field [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of academic subject librarianship in Germany in the 20th century is discussed, particularly subject librarians' responsibilities for collection development in their areas of expertise. 21st-century challenges to the professional profile and function of subject librarians due to changing theories of collection development and acquisitions, as well as the 2011 recommendations of the German Wissenschaftsrat (Arts and Sciences Council) regarding academic libraries, are also addressed.

Abstracts in German and English of the articles in this issue are presented, including studies of subject librarians in Great Britain and Germany, the impact of digitization on music and musicology, and mobile device applications for digital library collections.

The article discusses the role of subject librarians in academic libraries in Great Britain. It explores the 20th century development of and rationale for subject librarianship in British academic libraries, and considers shifts in library organizational structure, required education, and professional philosophies. Changes in subject librarians' job functions from an emphasis on subject expertise to communication, didactic, and technology skills since the 1990s are also addressed.

The subject refers to actions which have been initiated by central parameters, political developments and events at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg during the fifties and sixties. They are described in the context of cultural policy developments at the same time. The article is based on non published documents and on experiences of the author during his employment in Halle (Saale). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces the November 13, 2009 awarding of the "Grosses Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich" to library director Hofrat Dr. Günther Olensky, who was the director of the university library at the Veterinary School of Medicine of the University of Vienna, Austria for 28 years. The personal life, career as veterinarian and librarian, and professional accomplishments of Dr. Olensky are discussed.

The article discusses the collection of the German Central Library for Economic Sciences - Leibniz Economics Information Center (ZBW), which is divided between the cities of Kiel and Hamburg, Germany. The author reviews the availability of the various media, emphasizing printed text, for trans-regional distribution to patrons and the conditions surrounding the borrowing of ZBW materials.

The article discusses reconciling the bifurcated roles of the librarian as an administrative official and as a scientific worker. Various commentaries on the division and prioritization of the tasks of professional librarians in Germany are cited. Changes in practical and professional training are described, particularly of scientific librarians.

Copyright of ABI Technik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the German writer Thomas Mann collection at the Düsseldorf university and provincial library. The contents of the collection are summarized, and efforts to make the material available on the Internet are described. The online catalogue address is provided and search possibilities described.

A biography is presented about Austrian centenarian librarian Elisabeth Bauer. She was born on July 25, 1908 in Vienna, Austria, and grew up in Vienna and in Holland. Bauer's library accomplishments are noted, such as developing the social studies library Bibliothek der Sozialakademie in the late 20th century and working in the Catholic sociology library Katholische Sozialakademie Österreichs (ksoe) since 1958. The librarian's character traits and staunch religious beliefs are noted.

The article presents details about a job vacancy for the post of library director at the Archbishop's Academic Library in Paderborn, Germany

The article presents a classified advertisement for an academic librarian sought for the the library of the Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover veterinary library association in Hannover, Germany.

An obituary for the Austrian library director Rudolf Heller is presented.

The article announces the accession of Antje Kellersohn to the directorship of the Freiburg University library in Breisgau, Germany.

The article discusses changes at the university and provincial library in Düsseldorf, Germany. As of April 2007 the facility has lengthened its hours of operation to 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and weekends 9 a.m. to midnight. Additionally the library has installed an automated book return system from 3M company.