Uppsala universitetsbibliotek

Uppsala University (UU) (Swedish: Uppsala universitet) is a public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation.

The Library was founded by Gustav II Adolf in 1620. That year it also received its first donation, a book collection that included remains of medieval monastic libraries and confiscated private libraries.

In the 1600s and 1700s the collections were growing from donations, partly consisting of war booty from the wars on the continent, and so called legal deposits. Uppsala University Library was at the end of 17th century granted the right of free copies (legal deposits) of printed and published material in Sweden.

The twentieth century onwards has been a time of intensive growth for the Library, both regarding its collection, new building extensions and reorganisations.

Today the Uppsala University Library consists of a number of subject libraries, one of which is housed in the old main library building, Carolina Rediviva, where there is also a reading room for manuscripts and rare books.

Uppsala University Library has several subject libraries with and large and valuable special collections that have been accumulated over 400 years. It is also has collections of manuscripts, music, maps and prints.

The Uppsala University Library is headed by a Library Director, the head librarian.