Art library

The "Stadt- und Regionalbibliothek Cottbus" (city and regional library) has original modern art available to borrow.

The collection contains around 330 works of art. The library's collection consists mainly of prints made using various techniques, but it also includes some photographs and a small number of watercolour paintings by artists both from the region of Brandenburg and beyond. The artists represented include Gerhard Knabe, Thomas Kläber, Sigrid Noack, Hans Scheuerecker, Falko Behrendt, Michael Morgner, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ronald Paris, A. R. Penck, Werner Stötzer and Günther Uecker.

Many of the pictures are permanently on display. The catalogue of pictures and the library catalogue provide an overview of the library's contents. Cottbus art library On the library's homepage, you can find a link to the catalogue.

Persons from 14 years of age registered with the library can borrow up to 5 pictures for a period of 2 - 6 months. The charge for borrowing an item for a period of 2 months is 2.50 EUR. The pictures are all framed and packed ready to be transported.

Cottbus' first art library existed from 1980 - 1989 in Sandow's branch of the 'Stadt- und Bezirksbibliothek Cottbus'. Both framed and unframed pieces from around the world were available to borrow. The second half of 1989 was both the beginning and the end for the art library. The collection of reproductions was abandoned and the library began to build a collection of original works. 60 prints formed the foundation, donated by the former Cottbus district council and original city council. The (re)-opening of the art library took place in November 1998.

There are around 150 art libraries in Germany (www.artothek.org).