The university library of OTH Regensburg (then still Regensburg University of Applied Sciences) has been in existence since 1973. On 9 March 2006, Minister of State Dr Thomas Goppel inaugurated the new building on Seybothstraße. At the beginning of the summer semester, the library opened its doors to the public on 13 March. Under the motto ‘New media in new spaces’, modern learning and working areas were created, along with an expanded range of digital and printed media, which have greatly enriched campus life at OTH Regensburg.
Review and construction process
The main reason for building the new library was the increasing number of students. In addition, the previous library, with an area of around 1,500 square metres, did not offer enough space for the growing collection of books and textbooks. The existing administrative rooms also proved to be insufficient.
Space for study and work
The library was deliberately designed in a style that offers a high quality of stay, creates quiet retreats and encourages communication. In addition to a modern and inviting appearance, the new building optimises economic, ergonomic and ecological requirements.
You can watch a video about the university library here: Historical development of the Regensburg University Library | OTH Regensburg
The building provides space for 180,000 books, more than 360 reading places, individual tables for concentrated work, group work rooms and even a comfortable couch.
The library in transition
Library Director Renate Siegmüller emphasises: ‘In recent years, the university library has steadily developed into a modern and efficient library.’ She herself has contributed to this by developing the university's own publication server, which enables lecturers and students to publish their academic work free of charge.
The latest technical innovation underscores this: in 2025, the library switched to the modern FOLIO system. This made OTH Regensburg one of the first universities in Bavaria to introduce this open, cloud-based system. For users, this means, above all, even better research and more efficient digital services for borrowing and literature management.
An award-winning library
The library has also been awarded the ‘Libraries – Partners of Schools’ seal of approval several times, which recognises its outstanding cooperation with schools.
A glance at the statistics also shows that the library continues to be heavily used: in 2024 alone, 320,000 visits were recorded. The university library is open 313 days a year, the printed literature comprises approximately 190,000 works, and the digital collection comprises approximately 200,000 plus 60,000 e-journals.
Two decades after its opening, the library remains a central meeting place for learning, research and exchange on campus.
