Swiss National Library

Swiss National Library is the national library of Switzerland. It is part of the Federal Office of Culture. Under the terms of the law which governs it, it is charged with collecting, cataloging and conserving information in all fields and disciplines, and in any medium, connected with Switzerland, as well as with ensuring the widest possible accessibility to and dissemination of such data.

The Swiss National Library is intended to be open to all, and, by the breadth and scope of its collection, it aims to reflect the plurality and diversity of Swiss culture. It is a heritage site of national significance.

The institution has been going through a period of change since 1990. This phase was given the name of RAMSES: Reorganisation for an Automated Management System and Enhanced Services. The principal objective of this project was to modernise the structure and operation of the Library and to increase services to borrowers and users with a view to transforming the Library into an information centre of truly national proportions.

1928 The Swiss Union Catalogue is created.

1931 Move to the Library's present premises at No 15 Hallwylstrasse.

1989 The National Library becomes part of the Federal Office of Culture Affairs.

1991 At the instigation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, the Swiss Literary Archives are inaugurated.

1992 The Parliament votes the new law on the Swiss National Library.

1993 VTLS library management software is introduced

1994 Access to Helveticat, the automated catalogue, goes public.

1995 Swiss ISSN Centre is opened. The same year the Swiss National Library takes part in the foundation of MEMORIAV, the association for the preservation of the audiovisual heritage of Switzerland.

2000 Inauguration of the Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel.

2001 The Swiss National Library returns to its premises which had been considerably renovated and enlarged.

2003 SwissInfoDesk, am commented list of relevant links about Swiss topics, goes online.

2005 The Swiss National Library launches the project Virtual information about Switzerland, a partnership between libraires. The participating libraries transfer the readers demands to the library which is specialised in the field.

2006 The Swiss National Library is run according to the principles of New Public Management.