Royal Library, Denmark

The Royal Library serves as the national library of Denmark. It also functions as the academic library for the University of Copenhagen. This institution is among the largest libraries in the world. It is also the largest library in the Nordic countries.

The library acts as a massive repository for Danish culture and history. It holds millions of physical and digital items for researchers and the public. Through various mergers, it has grown into a massive organization known as the Royal Danish Library.

The library collects information through several different methods. One primary method is called legal deposit. This process requires that copies of works printed in Denmark be sent to the library. This has been happening since the 17th century. The library also harvests four electronic copies of the Danish Internet every year. This ensures that digital history is preserved alongside physical books. The collection includes books, journals, newspapers, maps, and even music scores.

The library has undergone many changes since its founding. King Frederik III established the library in 1648. He contributed a large collection of European works to start the institution. The library eventually opened to the public in 1793. In 1989, it merged with the Copenhagen University Library. A major change occurred in 2017 when it merged with the State and University Library in Aarhus. This merger created the current combined organization. As of 2006, its official name reflects its many roles.

Managing such a massive collection involves many people and locations. The library currently operates across five different sites. The main site is at Slotsholmen in Copenhagen. Other sites include libraries for specific subjects like Law, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The library also manages the Faculty Library of Natural and Health Sciences. These locations allow the library to serve different academic needs. The institution handles a massive amount of activity every year. It manages 11,400,000 annual loans, though most are electronic.

The library contains many items of extreme historical importance. Some of these are listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register. This includes the manuscripts and correspondence of Hans Christian Andersen. It also includes the Søren Kierkegaard Archives. One very special item is a 1,200-page manuscript by Guamán Poma de Ayala. This document contains 400 drawings about life in the Andes.

The library also holds a rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible. Another treasure is the Hamburg Bible from 1255, which features 89 unique illuminated initials.

Even great institutions face difficult challenges. In the 1970s, the library experienced the largest book theft in Danish history. An employee stole almost 3,200 works, many of which were antiques. This case lasted many years and was not resolved until 2003. Most of the stolen items have since been recovered. However, a few hundred items remain missing. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting historical treasures.

The physical buildings of the library are also significant. The old building at Slotsholmen was built in 1906 by Hans Jørgen Holm. In 1999, a modern addition called the Black Diamond opened nearby.

This building was designed by the architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen. It is constructed from black marble and glass. The structure looks like two black cubes tilted over the street. Inside, an eight-storey atrium features white, wave-shaped walls. The building also houses a concert hall and offers views of the sea.

Today, the Royal Library remains a vital part of the global information system. It holds 36,975,069 physical volumes and 2,438,978 electronic titles. The library's annual budget is 394 million Danish Kroner. This money covers building maintenance and operations. The library is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a genuine need. By preserving both ancient manuscripts and modern digital data, the library connects the past to the future.