About the Library

The Vienna City Library can look back on a long history, with the first written record dating back to the year 1466. In the meantime it ranks as one of the three main scholarly libraries in Vienna. Its main focus is on research into and the documentation of the history and culture of Vienna. From the second half of the 19th century on, the special collections and the collection of printed works received a major boost through the acquisition of the papers and bequests of public figures, artists, writers and scholars.

It was in the year 1905 that the Manuscript Department and Music Department became autonomous units within the library itself. This was followed in 1923 by the Poster Department and in 1930 by the Documentation. The Printed Works Department is by far the oldest individual collection with its origins dating back to the 14th century.

The Vienna City Library – four of the five major collections – has been located on the 1st floor of the Vienna City Hall since the year 1856. The Music Department is located just around the corner at Bartensteingasse 9 in a flat designed by the Austrian architect Adolf Loos.