Make your contribution to the ZB

As a member of the ‘Gemeinsam für die Zentralbibliothek’ (Together for the Zentralbibliothek, GFZB) association, you can support the Zentralbibliothek and ensure that we remain more than just a library.

‘Whenever I visit the ZB, the plaques in the entrance area remind me that the vote for the founding and construction of the library took place on 28 June 1914, the same day of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that would trigger the First World War. As Europe descended into war, the people of Zurich were building their library, a gift to scholarship and urban culture, as well as an obligation for the future.’ – Professor Ulrich Eigler – President of the GFZB

Join us

About the GFZB

Only a short time after the ZB was founded through the merger of the city and cantonal libraries, the GFZB was also formed in 1917, at that time under the name ‘Gesellschaft von Freunden der Zentralbibliothek’ (Society of Friends of the Central Library).

In keeping with the tradition of the Zurich city library, which was founded in 1629 by cosmopolitan citizens, we still see ourselves today as a civic initiative and a third force alongside the canton and the city. The purpose of the association, as set out in its statutes, is ‘to support the Zentralbibliothek Zürich and deepen the understanding of librarianship in general’.

Our activities

In recent years, the GFZB has enabled the following projects:

Funding and awarding of the GFZB prize for outstanding theses in the Library and Information Science MAS. (2023, 2025, 2027)
Refurbishment of the concert seating in the music reading room (2026)
Launch of an augmented reality app by ETH Zurich for ZB exhibitions. It complements the museum visit in an innovative way and allows visitors to delve even deeper into the stories that the individual objects have to tell. (2022)
Launch of the ‘Eschertalk’ discussion series, which focuses on research topics of major societal importance. (2020)
Equipping the ZB teaching rooms with laptops and touchscreens for interactive communication. (2018)
Acquisition of facsimiles of books and special editions such as the ‘Hundert Zürcher Ansichten’. (to mark the library’s 100th anniversary in 2017)
Installation of a thoughtfully designed lounge in the reading room where users can read newspapers and magazines from all over the world. (2011)

Concert seating in the music reading room

Thanks to support from the GFZB, new concert seating for the music reading room was purchased in 2026. Among other purposes, it is used for the ‘lunchtime music in the Predigerchor’ series, which serves as a ‘musical showcase’ for the Music Department’s special collections.

Reading lounge

The reading lounge, installed in 2011, where newspapers and magazines from around the world can be read beneath the large lamp, has become an integral part of the reading room.

Equipment in the teaching rooms

The laptops and Prowise touchscreens funded by the GFZB have created a new interactive learning environment in our training rooms.

The Eschertalk, made possible by the GFZB, explores important research topics that matter to society.

Hundert Zürcher Ansichten

The GFZB funded the special issue of “Hundert Zürcher Ansichten” for the ZB’s anniversary in 2017.

The benefits of being an association member

Annual programme of events

Members of the GFZB association enjoy a varied annual programme of events and receive invitations to openings and exclusive guided tours in and around the world of libraries.

Click here for the 2026 annual programme of events.

General Meeting

The General Meeting is held once a year at the Zentralbibliothek. The Executive Board and Board of Directors provide information on new projects, present the annual figures and statistics and invite attendees to a drinks reception afterwards. There is an opportunity to share suggestions and ideas as well as network with other members of the association.

Welcome gift

New members receive a small welcome gift.

You can get involved with just a small contribution

Interested in supporting the Zentralbibliothek as an institution of historical significance with valuable collections? Get involved with the ZB and become a member of the GFZB. Simply register by emailing gfzb@zb.uzh.ch or use the form.

Registration form

Title

First name

Last name

Address (Street)

Post code, town

E-mail

Different billing address (gifting a membership)

Title

First Name

Last Name

Address (Street)

Post code, town

Membership

Individual CHF 70

Couple CHF 100

Students up to age 25 CHF 30

Collective CHF 300

I would like to donate

Consent to entering the prize draw for a pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones and correspondence

I would like to enter the prize draw and confirm that the judges’ decision is final and that no correspondence will be entered into regarding the prize draw.

I would not like to enter the prize draw

GFZB collective members

Organisation

The governing bodies of the association are the General Meeting and the Board of Directors.

General Meeting

The General Meeting is held annually and elects the President and the Board of Directors. It passes resolutions and approves the annual accounts and the budget.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors works on a voluntary basis, draws up proposals and implements the resolutions of the General Meeting. It is composed of the following members:

President

Professor Ulrich Eigler

Members of the Board of Directors

Professor Ulrike Babusiaux
Dr Lena Oetjens
Anna Schlosser
Lic. phil. Verena Wyss Meili
Matthias Fischli

Office

The office manages the association’s day-to-day affairs, provides support in organising the association’s activities and is responsible for membership administration and maintaining the website.

Contact

Gemeinsam für die Zentralbibliothek (GFZB)
Zähringerplatz 6
CH-8001 Zürich
Tel. 044 636 40 00
gfzb@zb.uzh.ch
www.zb.uzh.ch/gfzb