THE ASIAN LIBRARY AT LEIDEN UNIVERSITY A major international knowledge hub on Asia Discover the world at Leiden University OUR VISION Leiden University is about to create an Asian Library for its The Asian Library intends to create, together with partners, extensive collections on Asia including the largest collection a digital Indonesian Library that will be available worldwide. worldwide on Indonesia. Recently, Leiden University Libraries The Library seeks to extend its deep expertise on Asia with has taken on responsibility to accommodate under one roof a curatorship for digitised and born-digital Asian collections. the dispersed Asian collections of Leiden University and leading Furthermore, a fellowship programme, funded by partners, will research collections with significant Asian components from allow international scholars to visit the Library for prolonged other institutions. research visits and to establish connections with leading researchers. Leiden University is already a major international knowledge hub on Asia for scholars and students from all over the world participating in top research and teaching programmes. The Faculty of Humanities, where many of the Leiden scholars Leiden University is one of Europe’s foremost research focusing on Asia reside, ranks among the top 30 arts & universities. The university belongs to the top 20 humanities programmes in the world. Thanks to its deep European universities and consistently ranks among international network, Leiden University can bring together the top 60-80 universities worldwide. Up till now, leading figures from the world of research, culture, law, politics, Leiden University boasts 16 Nobel Prize laureates and finance and business to increase further insight and to deal 18 Spinoza Prize winners. Leiden is also the oldest with the challenges we face together. university in the Netherlands, founded in February 1575 as a gift from William I, Prince of Orange to the citizens The Asian Library will be a central focal point for study, research of Leiden in recognition of their sacrifices in the siege by and encounters between those with a profound interest in Asia the Spanish in 1573-74. Leiden was the first university and its position in the world. It will provide state-of-the-art in the Netherlands to exercise freedom of belief and facilities and seeks to expand its collections and make them religion. This is reflected in the university’s motto: widely available, among others, through intensive digitisation Praesidium Libertatis, or Bastion of Freedom. programmes and the inclusion of born-digital information. THE ASIAN LIBRARY at Leiden University THE ASIAN LIBRARY at Leiden University A FOOTPRINT OF LEIDEN “Leiden is one of the UNIVERSITY global intellectual AND LEIDEN centres for Asian UNIVERSITY studies attracting the LIBRARIES best to our excellent research & teaching programmes and world class collections.” Prof.mr. Carel Stolker Rector Magnificus & President, Leiden University ‘The Asian Challenge’ and ‘Global Interaction of Civilizations and Languages’ are two of the six main research themes of Leiden University. The University runs world class research and teaching programmes in the field of Asian area studies within different faculties. Leiden nurtures its tradition of multidisciplinary research on China, Japan, India, Korea and Indonesia and has a long history of research and teaching in Asian traditions, with a focus on language and philology, history, religion, philosophy, law and literature. Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean In the last thirty years, Leiden University has built up an Studies (KITLV) but also with the leading research institutions equally impressive track record in the study of modern and in the cultural heritage field. In Leiden, for instance, with contemporary Asia, branching out from the original core the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van disciplines and specialisations into politics, international Oudheden), the National Museum of Ethnology (Rijksmuseum relations, development economics, anthropology and sociology, Volkenkunde), Naturalis Biodiversity Centre and Japan law and socio-legal studies, and culture and media studies. Museum SieboldHuis. Leiden University collaborates with the The University offers in-depth education and knowledge on leading research universities internationally, including members civilisations, histories, economies, cultures, languages, and of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). systems of law and governance of East, South and Southeast Leiden University also works closely with a number of the Asia, and the transnational position of Asia in the world. top research universities in many countries in Asia, e.g., in the People’s Republic of China with Peking University, Shandong The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) is based in University and Xiamen University; in India with Jawaharlal Leiden. This research institute encourages the multidisciplinary Nehru University; in Indonesia with Universitas Indonesia and comparative study of Asia and, acting as a national, and Universitas Gadjah Mada; in Japan with Kyoto University European and global mediator, actively promotes national and and Osaka University, in the Republic of Korea with Yonsei international cooperation. The Institute was jointly established University; and in Singapore with National University by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences of Singapore. (KNAW), Leiden University, the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) and the Vrije Universiteit (VU). The university’s world class research, teaching and information resources combined with this closely knit network of academic In the field of Asian area studies, Leiden University collaborates and cultural organisations makes Leiden University a major intensively with renowned research institutions like the Royal international knowledge hub on Asia. THE ASIAN LIBRARY at Leiden University “With its renowned Asian collections and advanced services, Leiden University Libraries supports research, teaching and cultural activities in concert with an international network of leading research libraries and heritage institutions. ” Kurt De Belder, MA, MLIS University Librarian, Director Leiden University Libraries & Leiden University Press Leiden University Libraries (hereafter also referred to as ‘the Library’) is the oldest and –collection wise- the largest university library in the country. It includes the University Library, specialised libraries in law, social sciences, sciences, East Asian studies and a library learning centre in The Hague. In 2012, we celebrated 425 years of library collections and services with the publication of Magna Commoditas; Leiden University’s Great Asset. Renowned collections The Library manages vast collections of scholarly information maps, prints, drawings, archives, manuscripts and letters. and cultural heritage materials. It includes, among others, more And last but not least, the internationally renowned special than 5.2 million book volumes, 1.2 million e-books, 44,000 collections on the Middle East and Asia which attract many e-journals and hundreds of databases. Leiden University Libraries scholars worldwide. UNESCO has inscribed two Indonesian is known internationally for its special collections. We hold the manuscripts held by Leiden University Libraries in the Memory largest collection of medieval manuscripts in The Netherlands, of the World Register: the La Galigo manuscript and the the oldest and most complete photography collection in the autobiographical manuscript of the Javanese prince Diponegoro. country, large and important collections of early printed books, In this prestigious register, documents are inscribed affirming their world significance and outstanding universal value. Leiden University Libraries hosts more documents inscribed than any other heritage institute in the country. Intensive use of physical and digital facilities The physical as well as the digital facilities of the Library are intensively used by students, faculty, visitors and international scholars. In 2014, around 2 million visits to the physical library are expected. Users greatly appreciate the recently refurbished University Library which offers state-of-the-art facilities for study and research. It includes • the Huygens Information Centre, which recently was adorned with a new work of art ‘Monument for Nobel Laureates of Leiden University,’ a gift from the Leiden student organisation Minerva; THE ASIAN LIBRARY at Leiden University • 1.184 study places equipped with Wi-Fi and electrical outlets; The Leiden La Galigo manuscript was inscribed by • individual study rooms where students can retreat and focus UNESCO in 2011. La Galigo is one of the largest works on the task at hand; of literature and relates the story of humanity’s origin. It • group study rooms with smart boards where students has become well known as I La Galigo, a music work by can collaborate to prepare papers and presentations; Robert Wilson, the American avant-garde theatre director • the Dousa Special Collections Reading Room with excellent and performer. La Galigo originated in South-Sulawesi facilities to consult, study and digitise special collections and is written in the Buginese language. The Leiden materials; manuscript consists of 12 volumes, it contains the first • a media room where viewers can watch movies and part of this lengthy epic poem and is the largest fragment documentaries from our extensive DVD and streaming