Presskit

About the University of Graz

30,000 students, 120 studies, 4700 employees - the University of Graz is the second largest university in Austria. Founded in 1585, it builds on a long tradition in science, shaped by outstanding personalities, among them six Nobel Prize winners.
Today, the focus of research and teaching is on current challenges. These include climate change and ways to sustainably transform the economy and society, as well as digitalisation, socio-cultural change in Europe and healthy ageing. Scientists from various disciplines are working together to find solutions for the world of tomorrow.

University Library

The University of Graz Library is the third largest library in Austria and, with more than four million media, a gigantic storehouse of knowledge. After a generous expansion and modernisation, finished in 2019, the building also impresses with its spectacular architecture.
The Special Collections of the University of Graz Library preserve a large part of the written heritage of the Duchy of Styria as well as other valuable holdings. With around 300,000 objects, they are considered the second largest collection of this kind in Austria after the National Library. Among the most important treasures are the Graz Mummy Book (c. 260 B.C.), original letters from Johannes Kepler to Paul Guldin (1618-1627) and the Stratter Bible (1469).

The Special Collections

The Special Collections of the University of Graz Library have established themselves internationally as a center of excellence in the digitisation and restoration of precious manuscripts and books. Technology developed in Graz for the gentle digitisation of valuable holdings is used by Harvard University and the British Library, among others.

Connected to the Special Collections is VESTIGIA – The Manuscript Research Centre of the University of Graz, which is dedicated to the scientific study of written cultural heritage. This includes the holdings at the University of Graz as well as previously unknown or inaccessible collections, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe. The ancient writings are recorded, restored, conserved, digitised and edited in order to make them accessible for further research.