History, philosophy, religion, culture
As a universal library for the humanities, the Zentralbibliothek Zürich devotes extensive resources to history, philosophy, religion and cultural sciences.
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
- Subject-Specific Support of the UZH University Library
- Databases and electronic resources
- The specialist history portal CLIO
- Individual advice
- Training programme
- Acquisition request
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:
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:
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
- Subject-Specific Support of the UZH University Library
- Databases and electronic resources
- Specialized Information Service Classics
- Individual advice
- Acquisition request
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:
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
- Subject-Specific Support of the UZH University Library
- Databases and electronic resources
- Swiss Portal for Philosophy
- Individual advice
- Training programme: philosophy research course
- Acquisition request
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:
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
- Subject-Specific Support Theology of the UZH University Library
- Subject-Specific Support Religion of the UZH University LibraryDatabases and electronic resources
- Link to the Specialised Information Service in Theology
- Individual advice
- Training programme: theology and religion research course
- Acquisition request
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:
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
- Subject-Specific Support of the UZH University Library
- Databases and electronic resources
- Specialised Information Service Jewish Studies
- Sigi Feigel Visiting Professorship in Jewish Studies at the University of Zurich
- Individual advice
- Acquisition request
- Hebrew and Arabic page
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:
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
- Subject-Specific Support of the UZH University Library
- Databases and electronic resources
- Islamic Studies Department of UZH
- MENALIB, web portal of the Specialized Information Service Middle East, North Africa and Islamic Studies
- Acquisition request
- Suggest an acquisition
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:
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:
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
- Databases and electronic resources
- Links on this area:
- Antike und mittelalterliche Handschriften der Schweiz:
official page of the curatorial board for the cataloguing of medieval and early modern manuscripts of Switzerland - e-manuscripta:
presentation platform for manuscripts from Swiss libraries - e-codices
- Antike und mittelalterliche Handschriften der Schweiz:
- Individual advice
- Training programme
- Acquisition request
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:
