Universitätsbibliothek Basel

Basel University Library, officially the Public Library of the University of Basel (German: Öffentliche Bibliothek der Universität Basel, abbreviated UB), is the central library of the University of Basel. It also serves as the Cantonal Public Library (German: Kantonsbibliothek) for the city of Basel. With over 3 million items in its collections, the library is one of the largest in Switzerland. Founded in 1471, it is also one of the oldest in Europe. The local name for the library is Universitätsbibliothek (literally translated: University Library). It contains more than 3,000,000 documents, including 1,750 medieval manuscripts and numerous incunabula dating from the time of the Council of Basel (1431–87). The majority of library resources are freely available to the public and most of its books can be electronically accessed and ordered.