About us
The University Library is a bridge thrown between the Academy and the general public. It is a place of information, work, and communication for researchers, students, teachers, and everybody interested in art and science, covering a range of varied tasks, including, among others: the establishment, operation, and development of analog and digital infrastructures and services for the advancement of education, science, art, and culture in close cooperation with national and international archival, library, information, and museum institutions as well as other interest groups; the support of teaching, research, study, and administration as well as the Academy’s art collections; the collection, storage, indexing, and, wherever possible, barrier-free provision and communication of analog and digital data, information, and cultural heritage; the provision of literature to faculty, staff and students as well as the interested public; the conveyance of information, digital and publishing literacy, as well as the establishment of a platform for the purpose of knowledge transfer and education on art and culture.
Upcoming Events
- 
              A Disciplining of the GazeA book presentation and panel discussion on the history of conservation training at the Academy as part of the Academy Library’s event series Wer A… sagt. Book presentation and Panel discussion held in German Schillerplatz/ University Library (Reading room, M7) University Library ![Sigrid Eyb-Green, [em]Eine Disziplinierung des Blicks[/em] [A Disciplining of the Gaze], Letter P, 2025, cover (detail) Detail oft he book cover of "A Disciplining of the Gaze" by Sigrid Eyb-Green. It features a detailed drawing with fine blue and red lines on a beige background. A yellow vertical strip with the Letter P publisher logo is visible on the left side. The subtitle reads: "Conservation Training at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in the 20th Century".](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/activities/lectures-events/2025/a-disciplining-of-the-gaze/eyb-green_disziplinierung_2025.jpg/@@images/image-300-0accaa79fbdbe44031e20a9cb47d9e1e.jpeg)  
- 
              – Robert Vanis – back of a bookIn back of a book, Robert Vanis will replace the spines of selected historical books in the reading room with mirrors, photographs, facsimiles, photographic paper, and glass. The work reflects on representation and (in)accessibility, as well as the materiality and transience of knowledge. A project realised as part of Foto Wien 2025 at the Academy Library. Exhibition Schillerplatz/ University Library (Reading room, M7) University Library ![Robert Vanis, [em]back of a book[/em], exhibition view 2025; photo: Robert Vanis The color photograph in landscape format shows a section of a bookshelf with historical holdings, designed by Theophil von Hansen for the reading room of the Academy Library. Some books have been removed, and their place between the spines is taken by a portrait-format color photograph with a cloudy sky.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/activities/exhibitions-didactic-program/2025/robert-vanis-back-of-a-book/vanis_back-of-a-book.jpg/@@images/image-300-6c58c95444d166a398777561d6e7f2c2.jpeg)  
- 
              – Goose Quill, Squiggle, Ink Blot – Reading and Writing Kurrent ScriptA three-unit Kurrent workshop of the University Archives with Ulrike Hirhager as part of the Academy Library’s WissensWert event series Free course held in German – Schillerplatz/ University Library (Reading room, M7) University Library   
![[em]WERISTdICHTER?[/em] 5 years, 21.01.2022, photo © ContextCocktail A person wrapped from head to knees in silver balloons sits on a table in the reading room. Except for the glow of the green lampshades, the room is dark. The person is wearing black high heels, one leg is raised. The arms with pointed long fingernails point upwards.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/1_luftballonkleid.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                 
                ![[em]Open Context II: Everybody Here Wants You[/em], Exhibition with Julia Goodman, Moritz Gottschalk, Rini Mitra and Sofi Utikal, 2016, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka Moritz Gottschalk wears a white shirt and red tie and sits reading a book about Elizabeth Taylor, wrapped in thick colourful fabric in the library's reading room.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/8_opencontextii.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                ![Finissage [em]500 Years of Hieronymus Bosch.[/em] Lecture and music performance with Erwin Pokorny and David Pujadas Bosch, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka Detail of a picture by Hieronymus Bosch projected onto a screen in the library's reading room.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/9_finissage-500-jahre-hieronymus-bosch.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                ![[em]Jean Pierre Cueto[/em], Exhibition curated by Ruby Sircar, 2017, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka Photograph of a painting by Jean Pierre Cuero exhibited in the library.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/12_jpcueto.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                ![[em]Linie / Raum / Fläche[/em], Exhibition with Christian Murzek, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka Four paintings by Christian Murzek hung along the library shelves.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/13_christianmurzek.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                ![[em]Hidden Snacks[/em], Exhibition with Olivia Altmann, Èv van Hettmer, Ahoo Maher and Zmiyevska Oksana, 2017, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka Exhibition view of two dead fish on a silver tray photographed on red fabric.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/14_hiddensnacks.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg) 
                ![[em]Ein ausgang[/em], Exhibition with Matthias Guido Braudisch, Èv van Hettmer, Paul Mittler, Urs Tomaselli, photo © eSeL.at – Joanna Pianka White, collapsing house made of Styrofoam, set up in the reading room of the library.](https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/universitylibrary/mission-statement/15_einausgang.jpg/@@images/image-1400-1066e8d72c9ea67ed41d453421fa1e9f.jpeg)