Mission Statement

As one of the largest art libraries of the Republic of Austria, the University Library of the Academy of fine Arts looks back on a long history dating back to the 18th century. It keeps and preserves bibliophilic treasures of the past and, at the same time, is a future-oriented service facility of our modern information society.

The University Library is the Academy information center; it supports teaching, research, and studies by providing and communicating information and literature and by promoting information competence.

Our main collecting areas are the visual arts, art history, contemporary art, and architecture.

The University Library bridges between the Academy and the public; it is a place of information and a workplace for researchers, students, and teachers, a communication center for art and art studies.