Newsletter 02.2026
1. More Open Access, more visibility: the university library takes stock of the year 2025
We’re looking back on a successful 2025: In addition to our traditional tasks, publishing services are gaining in relevance. Especially the trend towards Open Access publishing is increasing the visibility of research at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Figures from 2025 show that online publishing is now in a predominant position, and that the share of Open Access publications is steadily increasing. Out of 385 publications in the past year, 368 were published online. 239 are freely available on the web, placing the Open Access share at 62 percent.
Our traditional services are still in high demand: as before, our portfolio includes copy, scan and delivery services. Our campus delivery service was able to provide 1,376 copies from books and journals in 2025. Additionally, we produced 52 digital items for semester collections and scanned 2,500 tables of content to be made available in the GBV Common Library Network catalogue.
The library also remains a much frequented place for studying and working. In 2025 the number of individual visits increased once more, from 135,437 in 2024 to 139,346. As well as that, we celebrated the library main building’s 20th anniversary last year.
Please read our press release for more details.
2. Students from Weimar schools do research on AI
March 2nd was all about wrangling AI for about 90 tenth grade students from Weimar schools at »Wissen erobern« (Conquering Knowledge). After Prof. Peter Benz, president of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, gave an opening speech about the unpredictability of life paths and the great importance of expanding one’s knowledge, and Weimar libraries introduced themselves and their many types of services, students had the opportunity to discover various research methods at several stations in the university library and the public library, and were thus enabled to carry them over into writing their first research paper.
For 19 years, »Wissen erobern« has been a constant in the collaboration of Weimar schools and libraries and the Staatliches Schulamt Mittelthüringen.
3. Limona passage temporarily closed
From March 16th to 19th the passage between main building and Limona building will be closed for renovation. To keep disruptions in library service to a minimum, the Limona collection and workspaces will remain accessible through the Schützengasse entrance. On our info page you’ll find everything you need to know.
Despite our efforts there may still be disruptions in library service – we apologize in advance.
4. Lesarten 2026: Weimar’s contemporary literature festival
The Weimarer Lesarten will take place from March 4th until April 1st and stress the significance of reading in present times. Along with many Weimar cultural and educational institutions, the university library is proud to be a partner of this important festival that spans over 23 individual events. Read the online schedule and choose from presentations, author readings and film screenings.
5. Seventh FAIRest Dataset Award
The Thuringian Research Data Management Competence Network is sponsoring the seventh »FAIRest Dataset« Award. Take part by submitting a research dataset and having it evaluated for reusability according to the FAIR principles. You can enter until mid-April and possibly win up to €2000. More information on how to take part can be found on the network's info site.
Stefanie Röhl
Sachgebietsleiterin
Informationsdienste