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The library after restoration in 2014.View of the Library through Place de la RépubliqueFormer main reading room of the library, built in 1950, destroyed in 2012 (architect: François Herrenschmidt)
After the destruction of the municipal library and the city's archives by Prussian artillery during the Siege of Strasbourg, the German Empire founded the BNU on 19 June 1872. The task of arranging its collections was given to historian and professor, Rodolphe Reuss.
It became the regional library for the ReichslandAlsace-Lorraine, as, according to German tradition, every region should have at least one library. It was also an Academic library.
The collections grew quickly, thanks principally to donations from all across Europe and the United States. But, even in spite of these generous donations, many priceless manuscripts, such as the Hortus Deliciarum had been destroyed and could never be replaced.[1]
After the territory of Alsace-Lorraine had been reverted to France following World War I, the question arose as to whether or not this library should be renovated and reopened. After some hesitation, the French government decided to keep the library.
The library now holds about 3,000,000 volumes, which is the second largest collection in France.[2] The collection contains, amongst other things, ca. 2,300 incunabula,[3] 6,700 manuscripts (plus 29,000 others from the archives – kept by the library – of the De Turckheim family, and several other thousands from the Alsatian Franciscan order)[4] and 5,200 papyri.[5]
