History of the Library

The library of the Institute for Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology is one of the three largest libraries within the university. The library’s history is closely tied to that of the Institute’s founder, Walter Deutsch.  Many of the holdings were privately bought or acquired through his correspondence or as tokens of the esteem in which he was held by colleagues within Austria and internationally, something evidenced in the many handwritten dedications contained in the books. The first head of this library was Gerlinde Haid, an academic assistant, who later became Deutsch’s successor, as chair and director of the Institute. During the intervening years, there have been many persons in charge of the collection, often former assistants like Sepp Gamsz and Rudolf Pietsch. 
 
The library is a centerpiece of the scholarly work at the Institute and indispensible for teaching. It is at the disposal of the staff and students as well as external users. Through the re-cataloging of the majority of the collection, one can now access it through the online catalog of the university.