Royal Danish Library

Royal Danish Library
Name	Royal Danish Library
Established	1648
Location	Copenhagen, Denmark
Collection size	Millions of items

Royal Danish Library. It is the national library of Denmark and the university library of the University of Copenhagen. Founded in 1648 by King Frederick III, it holds the largest collection of Danish printed works and historical manuscripts. The institution functions as both a repository of national heritage and a major modern research library, serving scholars and the public.

History

The library's origins trace to 1648 when King Frederick III began assembling a royal collection at Copenhagen Castle. This foundational collection was significantly expanded in the 17th century, notably through the acquisition of the library of Thomas Bartholin, a prominent physician and scholar. A pivotal moment occurred in 1793 when the institution, then known as the Royal Library, opened its doors to the public under the reign of King Frederick VI. The 20th century saw major developments, including the merger with the Copenhagen University Library in 1989. Further consolidation happened in 2017 when it merged with the State and University Library in Aarhus, formally uniting the national library functions for all of Denmark.

Collections

Its collections are vast and encompass millions of physical and digital items. The core is the comprehensive archive of Danish printed material, supported by the legal deposit law. Treasures include nearly all known works of the Danish Golden Age and original manuscripts by Hans Christian Andersen and the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The library holds the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection, a crucial resource for Old Norse and Icelandic literature studies, and the Moller Map Collection. Special collections feature significant holdings of incunabula, Renaissance cartography, and extensive archives of Danish music scores and recordings.

Buildings

The institution operates from several iconic buildings. The original historic building, known as the "Black Diamond," is a modern extension completed in 1999 on the Copenhagen waterfront at Slotsholmen. This striking structure, clad in black granite, houses the main reading rooms and exhibition spaces. In Aarhus, the primary facility is the building designed by architects Kaj Fisker and C.F. Møller, a noted example of Danish functionalism. Other important sites include the storage facility in Ballerup and the specialized Danish Museum of Music and Danish Photo Museum in Ribe.

Digital services

A leader in digital preservation, it provides extensive online resources through platforms like bibliotek.dk and Mediestream. The Lix.com platform offers access to a vast repository of Danish newspapers and periodicals. Researchers utilize digital collections of medieval manuscripts and the national bibliography, Dansk Bibliotekscenter. The library actively participates in international digital heritage projects such as Europeana and the International Internet Preservation Consortium, ensuring global access to Scandinavian studies materials.

Legal deposit

Since 1697, it has benefited from a legal deposit law, obligating publishers in Denmark to submit copies of all printed works. This mandate was expanded in the 21st century to include digital publications, online content, radio broadcasts, and television programs. This system ensures the preservation of the Danish cultural record, from major newspapers like Berlingske to ephemeral digital media, forming the basis for the national bibliography.

Governance and organization

It operates as an independent institution under the auspices of the Danish Ministry of Culture. Strategic direction is provided by a board of directors appointed by the minister, while daily operations are managed by a director general. The library is organized into several main departments focusing on areas like research services, cultural heritage, and digital development. It works closely with other major institutions including the University of Copenhagen, the National Museum of Denmark, and the Danish Archives.

Category:National libraries Category:Libraries in Denmark Category:Buildings and structures in Copenhagen Category:University of Copenhagen