The Library Started in 1965

In early 1965, several Danish newspapers reported that the Ministry of Culture planned to establish a university library in Odense, and that the position of Chief Librarian for Odense University Library would be advertised with an application deadline in June of the same year — even though the upcoming new university in Odense would not begin teaching hopeful new students until more than a year later.

On March 3, 1965, Fyns Aktuelt reported that the Chief Librarian position would be paid 53,000 DKK annually. The position was filled in September, when Fyens Stiftstidende published a portrait of Torkil Olsen, the university library's first Chief Librarian.

Torkil Olsen came to Odense from Risø, where he had founded the new research library under Niels Bohr just a few years earlier. Later, Torkil became the National Librarian, managing the daily operations of the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen.

The greatest challenge for the library in its early years was acquiring enough books to support the new university. As a result, several entire library collections were purchased, including the Studenterforeningen library in Copenhagen and the extensive Old Collection from Herlufsholm School, which was acquired back in 1969.

In connection with the library's 50th anniversary in 2015, a richly illustrated book about this unique collection, The Magic of the Old World, was published. The book can be read (Open Access, Danish only) on SDU’s research communication portal; ”Den gamle verdens magi”, som kan læses (Open Access).