Central University Library of Iași

Biblioteca Centrală Universitară "Mihai Eminescu" Iași

The main branch of the Mihai Eminescu Central University Library

47°10′13″N 27°34′32″E﻿ / ﻿47.1702°N 27.5756°E﻿ / 47.1702; 27.5756
Location| Iași, Romania
Type| Academic library
Established| 1839
Branches| 13
Collection
Size| over 2.5 million
Other information
Website| www.bcu-iasi.ro

Building

Building details

General information
Architectural style| Neoclassical
Construction started| 1930
Inaugurated| 1934
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Constantin Iotzu
Engineer| Emil Prager

The Mihai Eminescu Central University Library of Iași (Romanian: Biblioteca Centrală Universitară "Mihai Eminescu" Iași) is a library that serves the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University and the entire university and academic community in Iași, Romania.

## History

[edit]

The library was established on 8 November 1839 and opened on 23 November 1841, carrying on the tradition of the activity and fame of the old library of Academia Vasiliană, founded in 1640. Functioning closely with Academia Mihăileană, founded in 1835, it had the double character of a school library and a public library. In 1860, when the academy was transformed into the new University of Iași, the library became the Central University Library of Iași. However, its university character was soon changed again, for in 1864 the Regulation for Public Libraries transformed it into the Central State Library of Iași, with a national library profile but also playing the role of a university library. This double character continued until 1916, when the library once again assumed its current name.[1]

When it opened, the University of Iași had three faculties, not counting the theological section: Law, Philosophy, and Science. Scientific and technical specialisation of the different sections within the faculties began almost at once. After several management proposals made by Dimitrie Gusti in 1913 and 1914, the library was reorganised in 1932 according to the system proposed by B. Harms and W. Gülich. It was once again reorganised in 1948, after World War II. This had become quite necessary, as the library's collection had increased from 600 volumes to 1,500,000.[1] By 2007 it had an additional million volumes. Among these are manuscripts, incunabula and rare books that entered the collection from monastic and private libraries, either by donation or purchase.[2]

Mihai Eminescu and Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu both served as librarians-in-chief at this institution.[1]

From its foundation until 1860, the library functioned in the building of Academia Mihăileană (now demolished). It was housed in the old university building (now the University of Medicine and Pharmacy) until 1897 and in the new university building (now the study hall of the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași) until after World War II, when it moved into the building of the King Ferdinand I Foundation's Library, the collections of which it now includes.[2]

This structure was built between 1930 and 1934 by the engineer Emil Prager following architect Constantin Iotzu's plans. The interior features Carrara marble and Venetian mosaic, while the exterior is decorated with Ionic columns, neo-Doric pilasters, small triangular pediments and medallions of important cultural figures.[2] The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments.[3]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Kent
2. ^ a b c Official site
3. ^ "The Romanian Register of Historical Monuments in Iași County" (PDF). Patrimoniu.gov.ro. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

## References

[edit]

* Allen Kent; Harold Lancour; Jay E. Daily (1 February 1979). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Volume 26 - Role Indicators to St. Anselm-College Library (Rome). CRC Press. pp. 80–3, 95–6\. ISBN 978-0-8247-2026-1.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Central University Library of Iași.

* (in Romanian) Official site

* v
* t
* e

Landmarks in Iași

Historical|

* Balș House
* Braunstein Palace
* Calimachi Palace
* Cantacuzino-Pașcanu Palace
* Cuza Palace
* Grand Hotel Traian
* Grigore Sturdza Palace
* Metropolitan Palace
* Mihai Sturza Palace
* Neuschotz Palace
* Palace of Culture
* Roset-Roznovanu Palace

Cultural|

* Art Museum
* Dosoftei House
* Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia
* George Topîrceanu Memorial House
* Iași Athenaeum
* Iași National Theatre
* Ion Creangă Bojdeuca
* Luceafărul Theatre
* Ludic Theatre
* Metropolitan Museum
* Mihai Codreanu Memorial House
* Mihai Eminescu Museum
* Mihail Sadoveanu Memorial House
* Moldavia's History Museum
* Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra
* Jewish Community Museum
* Municipal Museum
* Museum of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
* Natural History Museum
* Nicolae Gane Memorial House
* Otilia Cazimir Memorial House
* Pogor House
* Poni-Cernătescu Memorial House
* Romanian National Opera
* Science and Technology Museum
* Theatre Museum
* Union Museum

Monasteries,
churches
and synagogues|

* Armenian Church
* Aroneanu Monastery
* Barnovschi Church
* Bărboi Monastery
* Bârnova Monastery
* Bucium Monastery
* Cetățuia Monastery
* Frumoasa Monastery
* Galata Monastery
* Golia Monastery
* Great Synagogue
* Hlincea Monastery
* Metropolitan Cathedral
* Old Catholic Cathedral
* Old Metropolitan Cathedral
* Saint Nicholas Princely Church
* Saint Sabbas Church
* Saint Spiridon Church
* Socola Monastery
* Trei Ierarhi Monastery

Educational|

* Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
* Gheorghe Asachi Technical University
* George Enescu National University of Arts
* Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy
* Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Life Sciences
* Central University Library
* Gheorghe Asachi Iași County Library
* National College
* Costache Negruzzi College
* Mihai Eminescu College

Statues
and monuments|

* Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol Statue
* Alexandru Ioan Cuza Statue
* Attacking Cavalryman Statue
* Dosoftei Statue
* Gheorghe Asachi Statue
* Grigore III Ghica Monument
* Independence Statue
* Mihai Eminescu Statue
* Mihail Kogălniceanu Statue
* Miron Costin Statue
* Stephen the Great Statue
* Union Monument
* Vasile Alecsandri Statue
* Voievodes Statuary

Parks, squares and
natural landmarks|

* Bârnova Lime Tree
* Botanical Garden
* Central Market Square
* Ciric Park
* Copou Gardens
* Eminescu's Linden Tree
* Exhibition Park
* Independence Square
* Mihai Eminescu Square
* Odd Poplars Alley
* Palace Square
* Palas Garden
* Podu Roș Square
* Repedea Hill Fossil Site
* Theatre Square
* Union Square
* University Square
* Voievozilor Square

Sports venues|

* Emil Alexandrescu Stadium

Shopping|

* Felicia Shopping Centre
* Hala Centrală
* Iulius Mall
* Mall Moldova
* Moldova Center
* Palas Mall

Infrastructure|

* Iași International Airport
* Central Railway Station
* Nicolina International Railway Station
* CTP Iași

By type|

* Attractions
* Media in Iași

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Norway
* Poland
* Vatican

Geographic|

* Structurae

People|

* ISIL: RO-IaBCU

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template