With HfG Offenbach having been founded in 1970, work began in 1971 on systematically assembling the library. It currently has a collection of artistic and academic works totaling more 55,000 media units. The collection is based on the university’s classes, research areas, and artistic themes. The collections main emphases, art/history of art, architecture, visual communication, product design and theater studies are complemented by basic literature from the fields of philosophy, sociology, media theory and cultural history.

The library is located on the 3^rd floor of the main building at Schlossstrasse 31. During opening hours it serves as a reference library to all those with an interest in the subject. Only members of the university can take material out on loan. For further details please refer to the rules governing the use of the library.

The HfG-library/media library has individual work stations and group stations. Catalog and Internet research is possible at three stations.

There are also a scanner and a photocopier available for use.

The library team consists of Christa Scheld, M.A. (Diplom-Bibliothekarin, Management) and Clara Weisel (Bibliothekearin, B.A.) as well as four student assistants.

We provide a service that includes providing information about the library’s own collection and help with researching and procuring literature not available at HfG, as well as basic help with academic works. In the process we aim to correspond as little as possible to the negative model of a library created by Umberto Eco in his lecture “The Library”. 

The collection of monographs is openly accessible and arranged in line with a proprietary numerical system based on the main emphases of the library’s collecting activities. It can be researched in full via the web OPAC and can for the most partbe taken out on loan.

On a regular basis the library acquire more than 60 German and foreign magazines. The current issues for the year of all the magazines acquired can be perused in the reading room. They cannot be taken out on loan. Due to a lack of space, issues from previous years are stored elsewhere and must be ordered in order to be taken out on loan. The magazines can be researched via the web OPAC as well as on the list below.

List of magazines:

In addition to the classic print media, the HfG library also has an extensive collection of CDs and DVDs.

These can also be researched in full via the web OPAC.

HfG’s own Video Talks series of DVDs featuring selected recorded lectures given at the university embraces in excess of 100 titles and can be taken out on loan from the library.

The library also has a collection of all the degree theses written at the university since 1974. Now numbering more than 2,000, these theses  from both departments can be viewed during opening hours. Copyrights prevent them from being taken out on loan.

During opening hours the library is open to all those with an interest in the subject. Only HfG members can take material out on loan. The loan periods are:

• for monographs: 4 weeks
• for magazines: 2 weeks
• for CDs + DVDs: 1 week

The loan period can be extended in person, by telephone, or by e-mail. Media already out on loan can be reserved.

Basic literature and media on the respective courses are made available as a semester apparatus in the library, which is usually available for the duration of one semester during opening hours. DVDs and CDs of the semester apparatuses are available at the lending desk. The literature is offered for this period as loan stock with reduced loan times.