Public libraries
There are 169 public libraries across Tyrol. More than 1,552 full-time and volunteer librarians provide and manage around 1,100,000 media and look after over 90,600 readers.
(as of December 2024)
You can find all public library locations in Tyrol on the website Austrian Library Association (BVÖ)
The aim of the service centre at the University and State Library is to support Tyrol's full-time and volunteer librarians in a variety of ways. Through various services and offers, the lively and diverse library landscape in Tyrol is to be strengthened, maintained and further professionalised.
This is achieved
- through personal consulting sessions on site on topics such as funding, inventory work, work with funding bodies, training and further education, etc.
- by supporting regional measures to promote reading
- through a broad training programme
- through the publication of the magazine "Lesezeichen"
- through the annual Tiroler Büchereitag
- through further offers for networking and exchange
- through close cooperation with other specialist library services such as the Innsbruck Diocesan Libraries Department and the Tyrolean Department of Culture
The origins of the public library system go back over 100 years and can be found in workers' educational associations, Catholic reading clubs and liberal associations. Reading was to be made accessible to a broader section of the population.
The oldest libraries include Landeck, St. Johann, Brixen and Hall in Tirol.
The latter was opened to the public as the "Catholic Public Library" on 25th of September in 1904.
Cooperation and networking within the University of Innsbruck and with specialist centres in Tyrol, Austria and German-speaking countries are an essential part of our work:
- Province of Tyrol: Service centre for libraries | Province of Tyrol
- Library department of the Diocese of Innsbruck:Libraries
- Austrian Library Association: Austrian Library Association | BVÖ - Büchereiverband Österreichs
- South Tyrolean Library Association: News | Library Association South Tyrol
Internships for students in public libraries
Since the winter semester 2025/26, students of some degree programmes at the University of Innsbruck have had the opportunity to complete internships in public libraries. They can receive ECTS points for this and support the libraries in a variety of tasks (events, lending services, social media presence, etc.). This does not incur any costs for the libraries.
You can find more information about the internships through this download here or at A-Z.
If you are a public libraryinterested in such an internship, please fill out the non-binding form at Online form and the service centre will contact you. For further information, please contact Christine Tavernier-Gutleben at ulb-buechereien@uibk.ac.at.
Training program
The "Regional introduction to library practice" corresponds to the first week of the training programme for volunteer and part-time librarians. Completion of this course opens up the possibility of joining the second week of a training programme.
The training programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport (BMKÖS) together with the Tyrolean Department of Culture.
In spring 2025, the "Regional introduction to library practice" was completed by 18 employees from 13 Tyrolean libraries. The next event is planned for 2027.
Further training
The regional BVÖ events are available free of charge to all public library staff and can be booked via BVÖ-Homepage (Training and further education courses | BVÖ - Austrian Library Association).
Since 1992, the magazine "Lesezeichen", which was published from 1978 to 1991 under the title "Bücherei Information", has made the colourful library landscape in Tyrol visible.
Reports from the libraries as well as events and anniversaries are shown. In addition, it covers everything from reviews to training and further education formats to news from the diverse regional library scene - with a regular look at fellow librarians in South Tyrol.
The "Lesezeichen" is published twice a year in analogue and digital form, the current issue and all previous issues can be found here: Bookmark
The "Onleihe Tirol" is a platform for non-academic e-media and comprises around 18,000 media (e-books, e-audios, e-magazines and e-papers).
It offers a large selection of fiction, crime novels, non-fiction, children's and youth literature as well as over 50 different newspapers and magazines. These can be downloaded to a tablet, smartphone or e-book reader free of charge and be read for the duration of the loan. We are also happy to accept purchase suggestions.
The "Onleihe Tirol" has been financed by the Department of Culture of the Province of Tyrol since 2015 and is offered and managed by the ULB Tirol. Further information can be found at www.onleihe.com/tirol.
It can be used by all readers of the 105 participating public libraries or the ULB Tirol.
Christine Tavernier-Gutleben
Since April 2025, I have been managing the Service Centre for Public Libraries as the successor to Dr Susanne Halhammer. With my experience as a public library manager, I have first-hand knowledge of the issues that concern public libraries. As a passionate networker, I would like to contribute to making the concerns of public libraries visible and strengthening cooperation in the library landscape.
Christian Kössler
My career path led me to the ULB Tirol in 2004 - since 2018 I have been working in public relations, but also as a contact person and consultant in the field of public libraries. In addition to editorial activities, I focus on our regional library collection and, as a writer, I see myself closely connected to literary life in Tyrol.
Contact:ulb-buechereien@uibk.ac.at | +43 512 507 25035 or +43 512 507 25045