“Mihai Eminescu” Central University Library of Iaşi
4 Păcurari Street, Iaşi, Iaşi County
The current Central University Library “Mihai Eminescu” in Iaşi, which includes assets that were part of the former libraries of the state Academies (the oldest, from around 1640, was located at the Three Hierarchs Monastery), has been in existence since 1835, as the Library of the Mihai Eminescu Academy, and has only changed its name over time: the University Library, the “Ulpia” Library, the Central Library.
Over the course of a century and a half, it was forced to close its doors on several occasions, either due to lack of space (in 1859), the 1940 earthquake or the war (in 1944), and had its printed assets wasted or reduced by calamities (during the two world wars, during the economic crisis of 1929-1932, and the fire of March 1932). In 1860, when the first university in the country was founded in Iaşi, the library of the Mihăileanu Academy became the University Library, then the Central and Public Library in 1864, and the University Library again in 1916.
It operated in the building of the Mihăileanu Academy (now destroyed, between 1835-1860), in the old University (now the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, until 1897), in the new University (now the study room of the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University Library).
Over the course of a century and a half, it was forced to close its doors on several occasions, either due to lack of space (in 1859), the 1940 earthquake or the war (in 1944), and had its printed assets wasted or reduced by calamities (during the two world wars, during the economic crisis of 1929-1932, and the fire of March 1932). In 1860, when the first university in the country was founded in Iaşi, the library of the Mihăileanu Academy became the University Library, then the Central and Public Library in 1864, and the University Library again in 1916.
It operated in the building of the Mihăileanu Academy (now destroyed, between 1835-1860), in the old University (now the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, until 1897), in the new University (now the study room of the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University Library).
After World War II it moved to the building of the “King Ferdinand I” Foundation Library, incorporating its printed assets. The latter was built between 1930-1934 by the engineer Emil Prager, following plans by the architect Constantin Jotzu. The interior is made of Carrara marble and Venetian mosaic, while the exterior is adorned with impressive Ionic-style columns, new-doric pilasters, small triangular pediments and medallions with important figures of national culture.
The priceless manuscripts, incunabula, old and rare books, some bearing illustrious signatures (B.P. Hasdeu, M. Eminescu - who were also directors of the institution, I. Creangă, Șt. Procopiu, etc.), come mainly from monastery and private libraries (C. Hurmuzachi, B.P. Hasdeu, Mihail Sturdza, L. Steege, V. Adamachi, Titu Maiorescu, Paul de Gore, Iorgu Iordan, etc.), which have entered the library's heritage through donations or purchases.
The oldest university library in Moldova is one of the largest public law libraries in Romania.
The priceless manuscripts, incunabula, old and rare books, some bearing illustrious signatures (B.P. Hasdeu, M. Eminescu - who were also directors of the institution, I. Creangă, Șt. Procopiu, etc.), come mainly from monastery and private libraries (C. Hurmuzachi, B.P. Hasdeu, Mihail Sturdza, L. Steege, V. Adamachi, Titu Maiorescu, Paul de Gore, Iorgu Iordan, etc.), which have entered the library's heritage through donations or purchases.
The oldest university library in Moldova is one of the largest public law libraries in Romania.