Colloque – What do we lose when we lose a library

A conference about the future challenges of libraries
KU Leuven
9 – 10 – 11 September 2015

A collaboration of the University of Leuven, Goethe-Institut Brüssel & British Council Brussels
Location: KU Leuven, University Hall & University Library

To commemorate the centenary of the destruction of the Library in 1914, the Goethe-Institut Brüssel, the British Council Brussels and the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) are organising a three day international conference on the challenging topic: What do we lose when we lose a library?

The fragility of libraries in their material and digital dimension remains, 100 years after the fire, one of the greatest challenges for the transmission of human knowledge. The two conference themes Library & Heritage and Library & Digital Challenge will shed light on the vision and approach to the past and the future of libraries. The conference is addressed to scholars as pioneers of organising cultural memory through expertise and knowledge. The aim is to raise worldwide public consciousness of the important task of sharing collective and cultural memory, and to raise awareness of the challenges libraries face in performing this task.

Important deadlines
Monday January 5, 2015: Abstract submission opens
Monday January 26, 2015: Early bird registration opens
Monday March 16, 2015: Deadline abstract submission
Monday March 30, 2015: Abstract acceptance announced
Friday May 15, 2015: Deadline early bird registration
Monday August 31, 2015: Registrations closed

Background on the fire of the library in the Great War

100 years ago, during the Great War, in the night of 25-26 August 1914, soldiers set the fourteenth-century University Hall and its eighteenth-century library wing of the University of Leuven (Belgium) ablaze. This was part of The Sack of Louvain, which made a tremendous impression on international public opinion. There was no hesitation in denouncing this act with powerful words and historical comparisons. The plundering of Leuven could clearly be compared with the sacking of Rome in 1527 and the Leuven Library fire with that of Alexandria.

To commemorate the Anniversary of the Library’s destruction, the Goethe-Institut Brüssel, the British Council, Brussels and the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) are organizing a three day international conference on the challenging topic: What do we lose when we lose a library? The fragility of libraries in their material and digital dimension remains, 100 year after the fire, one of the great challenges for the transmission of human knowledge. Repositories with books and data files all over the world are developing strategies and generating research to pass on library and archival materials. The three day conference in Leuven aims to create a platform for cutting edge research and disseminations of ideas in the field of library, information and knowledge preservation. Moreover, it aims to reflect on the importance and the value of the ‘library’ as an institution guaranteeing transmission of knowledge to the next generations.

A General Session on the conference theme What do we lose when we lose a library? and two Special Sessions: Library & Heritage and Library & Digital Challenge [working Titles] will shed light on the vision and approach on the past and the future of libraries. The conference is addressed to librarians and scientist as pioneers of organizing cultural memory via expertise and knowledge. The meeting intends to raise public consciousness concerning this important task of sharing collective and cultural memory, and to raise awareness concerning the challenges libraries face in performing this task. The international conference is hosted by the University of Leuven (KU Leuven)

Organisation board

Mel Collier, KU Leuven
Sonja Griegoschewki, Goethe-Institut Brüssel
Andrew Murray, British Council
Hilde Van Kiel, KU Leuven
Garrelt Verhoeven, KU Leuven
Lieve Watteeuw, Chair, KU Leuven

Supporting Libraries and Institutions
Goethe-Institut Brüssel, Brussels
British Council, Brussels
British Library, London
Lambeth Palace Library, London
Trinity College, Cambridge
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbuttel
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München
Library of Congress, Washington
Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen
University of Antwerp
Bibliothèque de l’Université catholique de Louvain
Flanders Heritage Library
Unesco Belgium
Trinity College Library, Dublin
KU Leuven organization
Central Library; University Archives; Tabularium; Art Collection
Maurits Sabbe Library, Faculty of Theology; Illuminare, Centre for the Study of Medieval Art; Digital Humanities Summer School, Faculty of Arts; Digital Lab