Bamberg Book Stories: Experience historical treasures of the State Library online
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Discover historical book treasures virtually: Bamberg Book Stories
When books become witnesses of time, the lecture series Bamberg Book Stories begins. From November 3, 2026 to January 26, 2027, experts will open virtual insights into the historical collections of the Bamberg State Library on Tuesdays at 7 PM. The free online lectures guide through a library with more than half a million volumes and make outstanding objects from the collection digitally accessible.
A literary journey through the archives
Every book carries traces of its time of origin, its readers, and the cultural world in which it was created. The Bamberg Book Stories combine bibliothecal expertise with visual presentations to show how precious individual objects create historical narratives. Brilliant digital images and knowledgeable explanations bring medieval manuscripts, prints, family books, and historical editions directly to the home screen.
Kick-off with printed Dance of Deaths
The kick-off on November 3, 2026, features the lecture In Images and Sayings. Printed Dance of Deaths from Bamberg Collection by Dr. Franziska Ehrl from Heidelberg. The motif of the Dance of Death connects visual art, religious imagination, and societal memory. In the comparison of historical prints, it becomes visible how literature and graphics not only depict transience but also make it readable as a cultural experience.
From Dürer to Karl May
The thematic range of the series extends from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Following the kick-off, there will be a lecture on Michael Mathias Prechtl in honor of his 100th birthday, insights into the family books of the Bamberg State Library, and a consideration of the Michelberger Heaven Garden and its graphic templates.
Further evenings will be dedicated to the Swedish musician Georg Arnold, the books of the Nuremberg Poor Clares, Karl May and his publisher, as well as book design since 1892. In January, Bamberg pilgrimage books of the early modern period, the Messerschmitt enterprise in the Regensburg flying milieu, and the exploration of historical globes are on the agenda.
Literature science, book history, and digital communication
The series connects literary history, art history, music history, and library science. Its particular appeal lies in the proximity to the original: Although the lectures take place online, the high-resolution images convey details of paper, typography, illustration, and binding. The reading atmosphere gives way to a concentrated digital workshop where scientific classification and sensory perception come together.
The events are organized by the Bamberg State Library in collaboration with the Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg, the Bamberg City Adult Education Center, the Colloquium Historicum Wirsbergense, and the Historical Association of Bamberg. Participation occurs via Zoom using computer, tablet, or smartphone. With the consent of the speakers, individual lectures may later appear on the YouTube channel of Bamberg Book Stories.
Conclusion: History becomes visible as soon as books speak
The Bamberg Book Stories invite you to experience historical collections not as silent archive objects but as living testimonies of cultural memory. Those interested in book art, literary history, historical prints, and the linguistic art of past epochs will gain in-depth insights firsthand on ten evenings. A single click is enough for this literary experience between the Middle Ages, modernity, and the digital present.
Official channels of the Bamberg State Library:
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- Website: https://www.staatsbibliothek-bamberg.de/
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