Münster Public Library
(Information sources: Wikipedia and website of the Public Library) (Sources in German)
The Public Library is located near the St. Lambert's Church and offers not only books to borrow. Here you can also find audiobooks, eBooks, newspapers and magazines, movies, music CDs, board games and video games. You can also attend events such as readings and lectures at the library. Tours and trainings are offered for day nurseries and school classes.
The library started in 1906 with 4,300 books in a school, in 1909 it moved to the Krameramtshaus right next to the current location. During the National Socialism, the stocks were "purged" for the first time in 1933 and destroyed by book burnings on the Cathedral Square.
During the Second World War, the library in the Krameramtshaus had to be closed again and again, but the building was spared from direct bomb hits. Nevertheless, thousands of books were moved to other buildings and thus lost during bombings. When it reopened in 1946, the library held up to 5,000 books.
In 1951, the Public Library Münster was the first public library in Germany to introduce free lending. Since 1958, it has also offered a bookmobile, which today stops at numerous stations. From 1970, other media besides books were added to the stock, first records and since 1972 board games.
In 1986, it was decided that a new building should be constructed for the library right next to the Krameramtshaus (picture above). After its completion in 1993, the library moved. Today the library has more than 230,000 media in its stock, 180,000 of which are books.
You can find more information on the website of the Public Library (English version).
Tip:
Directly across from the Public Library, you'll find the Hot Dog Station in the Bolandgasse. There you'll find the tastiest hot dogs in all of Münster and in a wide variety of variations, such as the Hot Dog American (with spicy sauce, corn and cucumbers), the Hot Dog Trucker (with boiled egg, remoulade and fried onions) or simply the Hot Dog Einfach (simple hot dog). So if you're in the area and feeling the munchies, stop by the station – it's worth it.
Further information:
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Information page of the bookmobile (website of the Public Library) (website only available in German)
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Hot Dog Station website (website only available in German)