Newsletter

Newsletter 09.2026 _ English Version

Loneliness is widely spread in our society. It can affect anybody, regardless of age or life situation. It's all the more important to have places that bring people together. Libraries are just that kind of place, open, safe, noncommercial and enabling participation. This November, the German Library Association (dbv) and the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth therefore announce the campaign month »Gemeinsam in der Bibliothek«. The university library will take part together with many other actors at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
The University Library Weimar is joining this initiative, collaborating with numerous members of the Bauhaus-University Weimar. Discover the full program on our website.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the first International Bauhaus Colloquium in 1976, an exhibition explores the history of this international conference series at the former Hochschule für Architektur und Bauwesen (HAB) in Weimar. It focuses on the five colloquia held in 1976, 1979, 1983, 1986 and 1989, which brought together scholars from different countries to discuss the Bauhaus and its significance for architecture and design. Drawing on historical documents, the exhibition explores how the Bauhaus was appropriated and interpreted in the GDR and how these debates were shaped by political and professional interests. Exhibits include original invitations, programmes, planning documents and materials from the university documents and personal archives of the two organisers, Christian Schädlich and Bernd Grönwald. The exhibition was developed by Aliaksandr Shuba in collaboration with the Archiv der Moderne, the University Archive and the University Library of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

Exhibition Dates: November 2–16, 2026
Exhibition Location: University Library, Level F-1

Originally developed in 2025 as part of a curatorial research project on the Leipzig Academy of Fine Arts during the Nazi era and right-wing continuities at art schools, Nanne Buurman’s book installation explores how the complementary Cold War politics of memory in the former GDR and FRG continue to shape patterns of historiography to this day. Its first iteration was on display at the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Munich in March and April 2026. Taking her East–West German family history as a point of departure, Buurman investigates the sociopsychological dynamics of denial, repression, anxiety, and aggression as responses to researching difficult heritage. Its first three chapters were dedicated to Tegernsee, Leipzig, and Grimma as places where historical and contemporary, personal and political hi/stories of the right intersect in uncanny ways. For the XV. International Bauhaus Kolloquium, hosted at Bauhaus-University from November 4 to 7, she is working on a site-specific actualization of the installation. It will be on display not only in the library but also in the university main building.

Exhibition Dates: November 2–16, 2026
Exhibition Location: University Library, Level F-1

How was knowledge of ancient architecture rediscovered, developed, and transformed in the Italian Renaissance — and how did it inspire the design of new theatres? Drawing on rare architectural treatises from the collection of the University Library Weimar, subject librarian Dr. Moritz Lampe explores how architects such as Cesare Cesariano, Sebastiano Serlio, and Vincenzo Scamozzi communicated their ideas about body, space, and perspective through richly illustrated printed works — long before these concepts took physical form in buildings.
But how did these books, over 400 years old, end up in Weimar? Thanks to handwritten annotations and ownership stamps, the remarkable provenance of the volumes has been reconstructed — tracing their journey from Italian artist workshops, through noble private libraries, all the way to the University Library Weimar today.
This lecture thus reveals not only the history of Italian art and theatre architecture — but also a fascinating chapter in Thuringian library history.

You are warmly invited:
13 November 2026, 6:00 PM
in the Consulting Room of the University Library Weimar

This lecture is part of the Long Night of Sciences 2026, organized jointly by the City of Weimar, the Weimarer Land, businesses, and scientific institutions. 

The University Library is proud to present the exhibition »Portraits of People« by Michael Siebenbrodt, opening on November 19.
Siebenbrodt served as director of the Bauhaus Museum in Dessau from 1985 to 1992 and later led the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to photography. A pivotal moment came in 1956, when he experienced the iconic exhibition »The Family of Man« in Berlin. Since then, he has traveled to more than 75 countries, capturing portraits of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. This exhibition features numerous works that have never been publicly shown before.

Exhibition Dates: November 19, 2026 – January 9, 2027
Opening Event: November 19, 5:00 PM – accompanied by live music from the accordion duo con:trust, featuring Marius Staible and Daniel Roth

You are cordially invited!

The »mit.schrift« project by University Development invites you to the »Kleine Schreibnacht« on November 26, 2026, at the University Library Weimar. The event offers space for writing and exchange around questions such as: What do we write about, and with whom? How do our tools or interactions shape our thoughts and texts?
All students, doctoral candidates, staff members, and anyone interested in writing are warmly welcome to share their writing projects, approaches, and personal writing practices, and to take away inspiring ideas.
The event is free of charge for members of the Bauhaus-University Weimar as well as for all other visitors. While prior registration via the Congeno event portal is helpful for planning, it is optional.

The Thuringian Competence Network for Research Data Management is once again hosting its popular Coffee Lecture series this winter semester focusing on data publication.
Join us for a online sessions exploring essential topics such as maintaining and updating your ORCID profile, using tools from the Wikiverse, introduction to the new data storage option in REFODAT,  presentation of practical checklist for identifying and avoiding common pitfalls in data publication. All lectures take place on the last Wednesday of each month. Registration is free of charge. Presentation materials and recordings will be made available after each session.

Due to the public holiday (Reformation Day), the University Library will be closed on Saturday, October 31.
Please plan your library visits accordingly.