Press releases

Here you can find our current publications (German)

• 17.11.2025: Meinungsfreiheit und soziale Medien – Wo sind die Grenzen im digitalen Raum?
  Soziale Medien sind heutzutage zentrale Plattformen für den Austausch von Ideen und Meinungen. Doch gleichzeitig sind sie auch ein Nährboden für Beleidigungen, Falschinformationen und gezielte Hetze. Expert*innen aus den Bereichen Recht, Politik und Journalismus diskutieren darüber, welche Verantwortung Nutzer*innen, Plattformbetreiber*innen und Justiz tragen.
   
• 07.10.2025: Stummfilm mit Livemusik – Meisterwerk „Cabinet des Dr. Caligari“ kehrt auf die Leinwand zurück.
  Die Universitäts- und Stadtbibliothek Köln zeigt am 30. Oktober 2025 einen Meilenstein der Filmgeschichte: „Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari“. Der expressionistische Stummfilm aus dem Jahr 1920 wird mit Livemusik vorgeführt und in einer Talkrunde besprochen.
   
• 17.07.2025: German Research Foundation (DFG) funds the subject information services for sociology and philosophy for a further three years
  The University and City Library of Cologne (USB) operates two specialized information services together with cooperation partners. Further DFG funding has been successfully acquired for both for the years 2026 to 2028.
   
• 23.06.2025: 50+1: the anniversary exhibition of the Studiobühne and Filmwerkstatt of the University of Cologne opens
  The anniversary exhibition “50+1” by the Studiobühne and Filmwerkstatt of the University of Cologne opens on 02.07.2025 at 6 pm in the University and City Library. Posters from 51 years of theater and film history at the University of Cologne will be on display.
   
• 11.02.2025: Games-Geschichte(n) - exhibition shows the development of computer games of computer games
  On February 20, 2025, the exhibition “Games-Geschichte(n)” will open with a vernissage at the University and Cologne University and City Library with a vernissage.
   
• 10.12.2024: Crowning conclusion of the Cologne WASTA project – street artists receive art prizes
  The award ceremony of the “WASTA - Wallraf Street Art” festival will take place on December 16, 2024. Three artists convinced the jury with their contributions and will each receive 3,000 euros in prize money from the main sponsor Sparkasse KölnBonn.
   
• 05.11.2024: Christmas exhibition opens a window into the past – a journey through time between tradition and modernity
  From 28 November, 2024 to 02 February, 2025, the University and City Library of Cologne, in cooperation with the Museum Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, is presenting a special photo exhibition: “Weihnacht. The Wagner Family Photo Collection 1900–1945”.
   
• 22.10.2024: "Two activist sisters" - Colloquium on the 100th anniversary of Mathilde von Mevissen's death
  The colloquium will take place on 30 October 2024. Together, the participants will take a look at the work of the sisters Mathilde and Melanie von Mevissen, who were pioneers in the Cologne women's movement. The event is organised in cooperation with the Kölner Frauengeschichtsverein e.V., the Historical Archive with Rheinisches Bildarchiv and the University and City Library of Cologne.
   
• 26.09.2024: A film that should be destroyed: NOSFERATU - Eine Symphonie des Grauens
  On October 4, 2024, the University and City Library of Cologne will present the silent film classic “NOSFERATU - Eine Symphonie des Grauens” with live music at the Filmforum of the Museum Ludwig Cologne.
   
• 20.09.2024: Exhibition “Collect! Was wir sammeln.” shows the colorful world of collecting
  The exhibition “Collect! Was wir sammeln” is dedicated to the passionate collecting that many people have pursued since childhood. It will be on display at the University and City Library of Cologne from September 24 to November 17, 2024.
   
• 27.08.2024: Art meets Academia – Street Art Festival brings Wallraf to the streets
  At the WASTA – Wallraf Street Art festival, contemporary artists in Cologne create artworks, inscriptions and installations that deal with the legacy of Ferdinand Franz Wallraf, universal scholar and benefactor of the city of Cologne.
   
• 08.08.2024: Conceptual artist Mischa Kuball receives professorship of the Science Forum in Cologne and Essen. (PDF, 239 KB)
  The renowned conceptual artist Mischa Kuball will take up the joint Forum Professorship awarded by the University of Cologne and the University of Duisburg-Essen. In this context Kuball deals with the significance and increasing capitalization of public space. The Forum Professorship will take place as part of the Wallraf Year 2024.
   
• 18.04.2024: Spring cleaning around the University Library - students, staff and the neighborhood meet for a clean-up. (PDF, 228 KB)
  On April 24, 2024, the motto at the University and City Library of Cologne is: We're cleaning up together. The aim of the clean-up is to tidy up the outdoor areas and raise awareness of the issues of waste avoidance and sustainability.
   
• 15.04.2024: Valuable donation - University and City Library of Cologne receives historical library from Baron Poswick. (PDF, 227 KB)
  The important Poswick Library, a collection of French-language works, becomes part of the holdings of the University and City Library of Cologne. The generous donation is celebrated with a ceremonial handover.
   
• 18.03.2024: 200. Anniversary of Franz Wallraf's death - Unique library safed (PDF, 109 KB)
  Press release by the CEC, Coordination Centre for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
   
• 31.08.2023: Board of Trustees for the Rescue of Cologne's Historical City and Wallraf Library meets together with Minister Brandes (PDF, 113 KB)
  At its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, the Board of Trustees looked back on a successful record in the presence of Minister Ina Brandes (Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia) and Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker.
   
• 25.07.2023: My Name is Human - Cologne launches nationwide design exhibition on human rights (PDF 135KB)
  On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN Human Rights, the exhibition "My Name is Human" presents visual interpretations of the 30 articles protecting human rights. Designer Jochen Stankowski looks at the 1948 United Nations resolution and translates its words with design.
   
• 02.05.2023: "Burned. Ostracized. Verboten" - Exhibition on the burning of books at the University of Cologne (PDF, 279KB)
  90 years ago, on the evening of May 17, 1933, members of the German Student Union and the Nazi Student League burned books and writings by German and foreign authors in front of the university building in Cologne as part of the "Action against the Un-German Spirit." An exhibition at the University and City Library of Cologne reconstructs the planning, the course of events and the prehistory of the book burning on the basis of files, photos and plans from the Historical Archive.
   
• 24.04.2023: Artificial intelligence and democracy - how is AI changing our society? (PDF, 244KB)
  Never before have automated algorithms played such a major role in our everyday lives. That's why the University and City Library of Cologne is asking in three moderated discussion rounds at the WDR Funkhaus about the impact of algorithms on our lives - today and in the future.
   
• 30.03.2023: Art and Climate Protest.pdf (PDF, 116KB)
  At the panel discussion "Climate Protest: Between Art and Activism" at the WDR-Funkhaus on April 18, 2023, the University and City Library of Cologne will bring representatives of the art scene and the climate protection movement together on the podium. There will be discussions about protest actions and common goals, but also about boundaries and conflicts.
   
• 23.02.2023: Fascination First Folio - Shakespeare's Legendary First Edition Celebrates 400th Anniversary (PDF, 169KB)
  There are 234 copies of the First Folio left in the world today, only 14 of which are top class I or "Class A" editions, i.e. unrepaired books in the best state of preservation. One of these is owned by the University of Cologne. The university bought the book in 1960, along with four other Shakespeare volumes, for 425,000 D-marks on the antiquarian book market. Today, the First Folio is one of the most expensive books in the world. From March to June, there is a spectacular supporting program for the 400th anniversary.
   
• 22.02.2023 The Infinite Cycle - Painting between Flora, Fauna and Climate Change (PDF, 352KB)
  From February 28 to April 30, 2023, we will be showing works by artist Reiner Heidorn. Inspired by an intense experience of nature, the artist invites us to sink into the oil paintings, which seem both biological and magical.
   
• 16.01.2023 Nights at the USB - Four long learning nights for students (PDF, 161 KB)
  From January 23 to 26, 2023, students can study, write, and exercise until two in the morning at the University and City Library of Cologne.
   
• 03.11.2022: Border Crossings - Cinema Posters of Western Imported Films in the GDR (PDF, 251KB)
  From 16.11.2022 to 21.02.2023, the University and City Library is dedicated to the film cultural infrastructure in the GDR - exhibitions, lectures and film screenings provide insights into state censorship, everyday cinema life, advertising and distribution in the western cinema of the GDR.
   
• 08/31/2022 The Board of Trustees for the Rescue of the Cologne Historical City and Wallraf Library has been constituted (PDF, 197KB)
  Peter Jungen was elected chairman of the board - After Minister President Wüst took over the patronage for the comprehensive restoration project to save the Cologne Historical City and Wallraf Library, Cologne's cultural heritage in book form, in July of this year, the board of trustees that is to steer and accompany this comprehensive restoration project has now also been constituted.
• 26.08.2022 WEGWEISER ODER DIE MACHT DER MEHRDEUTIGKEIT - an exhibition on book treasures of the Cologne Jesuits (PDF, 340KB)
  In September 2022 we will be guests at the Kunst-Station Sankt Peter Köln together with the Kölner Gymnasial- und Stiftungsfonds. The exhibition WEGWEISER OR DIE MACHT DER MEHRDEUTIGKEIT" wants to present the things of the second look: Five stations tell stories that books in a school library only reveal when you open them - perhaps quite by chance
• Photos of the exhibition
• STATION 1 WEGWEISER ... IN DIE FERNE, Bild 1 (jpg, 506 kb)
• STATION 1: WEGWEISER ... IN DIE FERNE, Bild 2 (jpg, 2.0 mb)
• STATION 2: VERBORGENE TEXTE - VERBORGENES WISSEN, Bild 3 (jpg, 1.2 mb)
• STATION 2: VERBORGENE TEXTE - VERBORGENES WISSEN, Bild 4 (jpg, 304 kb)
• STATION 3: ZENSOR VERSUS ZIEGENBOCK - EINE LITERARISCHE KASTRATION, Bild 5 (jpg, 628 kb)
• STATION 3: ZENSOR VERSUS ZIEGENBOCK - EINE LITERARISCHE KASTRATION, Bild 6 (jpg, 2.5 mb)
• STATION 3: ZENSOR VERSUS ZIEGENBOCK - EINE LITERARISCHE KASTRATION, Bild 7 (jpg, 423 kb)
• STATION 4: PERSEVERA - HALTE DURCH!, Bild 8 (jpg, 1.7 mb)
• STATION 5: ZUR WAHRNEHMUNG EINES BILDES ... EINES TEXTES ZUR WAHRNEHMUNG, Bild 9 (jpg, 838 kb)
• Bildunterschriften und Fotonachweis zu den Ausstellungsstationen 1-5 (pdf, 87 kb)
• Photos of the exhibition
• 17.08.2022 IMAGINE AGING – Ein anderer Blick aufs Älterwerden (PDF, 153KB)
  A photo exhibition of the Cluster of Excellence CECAD and the USB Cologne from 18.08.2022 to 06.11.2022.
• 21.07.2022 Ministerpräsident Wüst übernimmt Schirmherrschaft für das umfassende Restaurierungsprojekt der Historischen Stadtbibliothek Köln (PDF, 143KB)
  The entire holdings of the Historische Stadtbibliothek Köln are to be restored by 2028. Following discussions with Peter Jungen, Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, has assumed patronage of the restoration project he initiated for the Historische Stadtbibliothek Köln, including Wallraf's library.
• 05.07.2022 Fachinformationsdienst Philosophie kooperiert mit Verlag Karl Alber (PDF, 93KB)
  The Fachinformationsdienst Philosophie (FID Philosophie) will include selected titles from the publisher Karl Alber in its research platform for philosophical literature philportal.de.
• 28.04.2022 Einblick ins pralle Stadtleben - Ausstellung zeigt Fotoschätze aus dem Bildarchiv der Kölnischen Rundschau (PDF, 283KB)
  In cooperation with the Greven Foundation, the UCL Cologne presents an exhibition of press photographs from the picture archive of the Kölnische Rundschau and looks at the cultural and historical significance of photo archives.
• 08.03.2022 Hundert Jahre Universitäts- und Stadtbibliothek Köln - Festakt legt Schwerpunkt auf Rettung des Kölner kulturellen Erbes in Buchform (PDF, 211KB)
  On its anniversary, the University and City Library of Cologne presented its successes in restoring the valuable book holdings of Ferdinand Franz Wallraf's library and looked ahead to future tasks: The rescue of the entire Historical City Library of Cologne.
• 26.1.2022 "Metropolis rebooted" Filmreihe präsentiert Fritz Langs Werke mit Live Musik (PDF, 211KB)
  The University and City Library of Cologne, in cooperation with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, is organizing a film series with three works by Fritz Lang in conjunction with the world premiere of Martin Matalon's film music "Metropolis rebooted," which will be shown at the Filmforum NRW in the Museum Ludwig and the Kölner Philharmonie, respectively.
• 13.12.2021 Data Stewards – dringend gesucht! BMBF fördert Projekt von USB Köln und ZB MED
  The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project DataStew - Data Stewardship in German Academic Research Institutions - Investigation of the Status Quo and Recommendations for Training and Profiling for a period of nine months starting February 1, 2022. Project partners are the University and City Library of Cologne (UCL) and ZB MED - Information Center Life Sciences. The project analyzes the emerging profession of data stewards. First, the partners examine the current academic research landscape with its various stakeholders. Subsequently, they develop concrete recommendations for action on this basis for practice but also for the strategic and science policy level.
• 04.10.2021 Wallraf-Bibliothek bis 2023 fertig saniert - Kulturministerin Pfeiffer-Poensgen lobt Erfolg der Bücherrettung (PDF, 673KB)
  Project to refurbish the Wallraf Library raises over one million euros by the end of the year to refurbish the book collections.