The University Library over 60 years – from unique book collections to knowledge hub
This year SDU’s Library celebrates its 60th anniversary as an indispensable resource for researchers and students at the University. Digitalisation has changed the Library forever – but the goal remains the same: Being present where the users are and recognising their needs – preferably before they themselves are aware of them.
You cannot say ‘university’ without also saying ‘library’.
That was common knowledge even in the Denmark of the 1960s. Therefore, when it became clear that the country’s third university would open in Odense, work immediately commenced on establishing a research library in the centre of the country.
The University Library can therefore celebrate its 60th anniversary this year – that is, one year before the University. We have talked to Library Director Bertil Dorch about the Library’s role then and now.
Many things have changed since senior librarian Torkil Olsen came to Odense in 1965, tasked with building a brand-new research library from scratch. In the beginning, the main challenge was getting hold of enough books to actually support the new university.
Therefore, he set about acquiring various library collections, including the ‘Old Collection’ from Herlufsholm School – which even to this day is considered a treasure trove of unique historical books.
And within a few years, the new Library became one of the largest research libraries in Denmark.
The digital transformation
Today – 60 years later – both the tasks and the challenges are different, emphasises Library Director Bertil Dorch:
- There’s no doubt that digitalisation has effected huge changes at the Library. This includes what our users want as well as the tasks of the library staff. By 2023, the number of printed book loans had stabilised at around 25 percent of what it was in 2009. On the other hand, electronic usage has increased dramatically, so we now spend a large percentage of our budget on making digital materials available.
However, Bertil Dorch also emphasises that the work with the book collections – which is where it all began – is still very important.
- In recent years, we have seen increasing activity regarding the unique parts of the book collection. Today, it’s something we build our profile on. The 50,000 volumes from the Herlufsholm collection and many other parts of our special collections constitute unique data that both SDU researchers and their partners are interested in and can use in their research.
A knowledge hub for the whole world
Although the world may look very different in 2025 than it did in 1965, some things are still the same – from the Library Director’s perspective:
- The Library is and will continue to be an essential part of the infrastructure at the University. That’s why we are very aware that as a library we need to be present where our users are. This is the constant state of flux we are in at the SDU Library – we go where our users and partners are and offer what they need – whether it’s open science, Citizen Science projects, research integrity or access to the works in SDU’s special collections, he says and elaborates:
- Ever since the Library opened on the campus in Odense, we have been at the centre of the University – and there we will remain for many years to come – only now we are a hub of knowledge for the world and are much more than a collection of books.
The story in brief
- The University Library began with the appointment of senior librarian Torkil Olsen in 1965. He came to Odense from Risø, where he had founded the new research library under Niels Bohr a few years before.
- After a modest start in 1965, the building of the collections began, including the continuous addition of new literature as well as the acquisition of a number of special collections. At first, the Library was located in a former shirt factory on Islandsgade, and it was moved to the campus in Odense in 1977.
- Until 1998, Odense University Library, as it was then called, was an independent institution under the Ministry of Culture.
- In 1998, the Library was transferred to the Ministry of Research, and in 1999 it merged with the University of Southern Denmark under the name of the University Library of Southern Denmark. Odense Technical Library became part of the Library in 2006.
- Sources: Universitetshistorisk Udvalg (The History Committee of SDU) and the SDU Library.