Libraries

What would a university be without its libraries and books? The UGent library network comprises the University Library as a central unit, 9 faculty libraries and some 200 departmental and seminar libraries, spread all over Ghent. In 2004 a reorganisation proposal was adopted focussing on the merging of small libraries into bigger entities.

Besides these numerous faculty and departmental libraries, Ghent University houses its central library in one of Ghent's iconic towers: the Book Tower by world-renowned architect Henry van de Velde.

As a digital library, the university library is the library user's guide within the electronic world of scientific communication and cultural heritage. Its task is to bring the entire electronic equipment of the university within easy reach. The digital library provides access to more than 10,000 electronic journals and no less than 110 databases.

The 'Book Tower' acts as the treasurer for the rich cultural heritage that was both collected by and entrusted to the university (including old manuscripts, unique publications, atlas maps, photographs and ephemera).

Visit their website for information about:

• collections
• borrowing, interlibrary loan and regulations
• UGent publications
• Google project: scanning UGent's copyright-free books since 2007
• Restoration of the Book Tower

University Archive

After World War II Ghent University started building its archive. The current collection of the University Archive consists of the archival collections of the administrative departments, the faculties, university and student organisations,...

The records are available for research use by all members of the University and by the general public.

Every year, the Archive organises exhibitions with its material for the general public.