Our main focus is on history and philosophy, but we also collect extensively in the areas of religion and the cultural sciences. We therefore cater to the needs of the University but also provide an extensive collection of resources for the general public, who will find literature on Swiss history as well as topical philosophical and religious issues.

History

Journey through history, from the earliest times to the present day. At the Zentralbibliothek Zürich you will find a comprehensive collection on all eras and aspects of history.

Literature for study and research

World history, European and North American history are the regional focuses of our collections, but we also cover the growing volume of literature on the history of emerging nations. All eras are represented, from ancient times through the Middle Ages to today. All research areas within the humanities are covered.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to history, contact:

Roland Brülisauer, lic. phil.

roland.bruelisauer@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



History of Switzerland

If you want to learn about the history of your home town or your family in Switzerland, the Zentralbibliothek Zürich is a good place to start. We collect literature on aspects of Swiss history both above ground and buried beneath.

Literature for study and research

The literature on Swiss history includes everything from wide-ranging overviews to detailed studies, individual and major events, personal and family history, and the histories of villages, towns and cantons. The collection also comprises source texts and accounts of archaeological excavations. We aim to provide literature that meets the needs of both researchers and anyone with a general interest in history.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to Swiss history, contact:

Roland Brülisauer, lic. phil.

roland.bruelisauer@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Archaeology

In most cases, archaeology is not about submerged palaces and priceless treasures, but rather the materially bound culture of times gone by.

Literature for study and research

Within archaeology, we focus on excavations and finds from Ancient Greece and Rome; but we also cover the ancient cultures of the Orient. Methodologically innovative studies broaden the perspective to encompass everything from ice age art to industrial archaeology. Swiss archaeology is covered by the subject area History of Switzerland.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to archaeology, contact:

Roland Brülisauer, lic. phil.

roland.bruelisauer@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Philosophy

Do you have a love of wisdom? At the Zentralbibliothek Zürich you’ll find almost the entire range of literature relating to philosophy.

Literature for study and research

Our holdings cover both the history of philosophy and systematic philosophy such as epistemology and ethics; but we also include more recent disciplines and interdisciplinary areas of study such as neurophilosophy and intercultural philosophy. You’ll find everything from general overviews to studies of specific topics, primary texts and interpretations of works.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to philosophy, contact:

Andrea Sommaruga, lic. phil. I

andrea.sommaruga@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Theology, religion

Theology has a long tradition in the Reformation city of Zurich. The Zentralbibliothek collects literature on all the world’s faiths and religions.

Literature for study and research

We collect the full range of literature on theology, religions and religious topics, including the various forms of Christian theology and religious studies. However, we also hold literature on ancient and non-European religions, Islam and topics such as atheism, new religiosity and religion and the state.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to theology and religion, contact:

René Schurte, lic. theol.

rene.schurte@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Jewish studies

Are you familiar with Jewish book culture? It is one of the areas we cover at the Zentralbibliothek. Here you will find a wide-ranging collection of literature on Jewish studies.

Literature for study and research

We collect literature on the history, religion and culture of Judaism, covering the Jewish tradition from its Biblical origins to the present day, with a particular focus on rabbinical literature, Jewish religious philosophy of the Middle Ages (Heidenheim Collection) and modern Jewish cultural history in Europe.

Modern Hebrew fiction 

In addition to publications on the Hebrew language and literature, we also hold translations of contemporary Hebrew fiction. For fiction in the original language, consult the Bibliothek der Israelitischen Cultusgemeinde Zürich.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to Jewish studies, contact:

Andrea Sommaruga, lic. phil. I

andrea.sommaruga@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Islamic studies

The Islamic cultural universe is much broader than the religion that underlies it. We collect literature on the religion, history and culture of Islam.

Literature for study and research

In recent times, Islam has become a much-debated issue in Europe. We collect academic literature and source texts on Islam, the majority of it in European languages. We look beyond Islam as a religion to encompass topics such as the cultural history of the Islamic world and the relationships between Islam and political, social and cultural issues.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to Islamic studies, contact:

René Schurte, lic. theol.

rene.schurte@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Parapsychology, occultism

Parapsychology and occultism are important issues of cultural history. We offer literature on this often neglected area of knowledge.

Source texts and research literature

Parapsychology and occultism are of importance to many academic disciplines. Esoteric and occult movements and phenomena are frequently encountered in the fields of history, art, literature and religion, among others. Their influences range from ancient gnosis via Mozart’s “Magic Flute” to the Da Vinci Code and UFO sightings. We collect literature on the esoteric in all its manifestations.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to parapsychology and occultism, contact:

René Schurte, lic. theol.

rene.schurte@zb.uzh.ch

+41 44 268 31 00



Bibliology

Bibliology encompasses the entire range of knowledge relating to books and all the processes and institutions involved in the production, distribution and reception of printed matter. 

Literature for study and research

The Zentralbibliothek Zürich administers a significant historical collection of books on bibliology, which is being progressively expanded. They include works on the history of book printing and on scripts, typography, the study of incunabula, printing and reproduction techniques, book illustration, bindings, bibliophilia, bibliography, libraries and publishing, the book trade and bibliographies, categorised by location and century. Preservation and use of these holdings is the responsibility of the Rare Book Department.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to bibliology, contact:



Codicology, book restoration

Manuscript catalogues and specialist literature on codicology and book restoration can be found in the Manuscript Department.

Literature for study and research

In addition to our important collection of medieval and early modern manuscripts, the reference library of the Manuscript Department offers a wide selection of specialist literature on codicology, including the history of scripts, binding techniques, paper and watermark research and book illumination.

Manuscript catalogues from Switzerland and abroad

Codicology also includes the manuscript catalogues of the Zentralbibliothek and the catalogues of almost all libraries holding medieval western manuscripts in Switzerland and elsewhere. There is also a selection of catalogues of non-European manuscripts.

Specialist literature on book restoration

A small but representative selection of literature on book restoration, particularly focusing on paper and binding restoration and disaster prevention, complements our reference library.

Links

Contact

We are happy to assist you with your search for literature and provide expert information. If you have any questions relating to codicology and book restoration, contact: