Herzog August Library

The Herzog August Library (German: Herzog August Bibliothek — "HAB"), in Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, is a special place for books and old writings. It is also called Bibliotheca Augusta. This library holds many important books and documents from the Middle Ages and early modern Europe.

People from all over the world visit to study the library’s collections because they are very old and valuable. The library is managed by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture, which helps keep these treasures safe and available for learning. It is a place where history comes alive through the pages of books that are hundreds of years old.

History

The Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel began in the 1500s with Duke Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He collected books while studying in France and added more from other collections. After Julius died, his son Heinrich Julius added even more books.

Later, Duke Augustus made the library much larger. It became one of the biggest libraries in Europe north of the Alps. Even during wars, the library stayed safe. Today, it has many important old books and manuscripts. Scholars from all over the world visit to study there. Famous people who worked at the library include Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing.

Significant manuscripts

The Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel has many important old books and writings. One famous example is the Codex Guelferbytanus 64 Weissenburgensis, which has hidden texts under its main writing.

Other important items include the Gospels of Henry the Lion, a book called Liber Floridus from around 1150, and several small ancient writings known as Minuscule 97, Minuscule 126, and Minuscule 429. There are also nine books from the collection of Matthias Corvinus, and a special book of prayers called Luther's Wolfenbüttel Psalter.