Libraries in the Eucor Network: New Impetus for Cooperation and Visibility

On 11 September 2025, the heads of libraries from the Eucor member universities met at the Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire (BNU) in Strasbourg. This meeting of the Libraries working group provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration around two key priorities: improving the visibility of the mutual opening of libraries in the Eucor area, and mapping available documentary resources.

Florence Amsbeck, Deputy Director of the BNU and moderator of the meeting, emphasised:
“The diversity of our institutions is a true asset. We face many shared challenges, and cooperation within Eucor is now more urgent and valuable than ever.”

Although the libraries in the Eucor network have a long history of collaboration, the last official meeting of the working group took place in 2019. The Strasbourg gathering therefore marks a significant restart, bringing fresh momentum and concrete projects for the future.

Making access to libraries more visible

A key issue raised during the meeting was the limited visibility of one of Eucor’s greatest strengths: free access to university libraries for all members of the Eucor universities on both sides of the Rhine. This reciprocal access includes these institutions:

• University Library Basel
• University Library Freiburg
• Learning Centre of the University of Haute-Alsace
• KIT Library
• Badische Landesbibliothek (in Karlsruhe)
• Libraries of the University of Strasbourg
• and the BNU.

The aim is to make this cross-border access clearer and more appealing, transforming it into a real lever for cooperation within Eucor.

Mapping to strengthen collaboration

The second focus of the meeting was the creation of a comprehensive map of documentary resources across the Eucor network. The goal is to highlight the diversity and richness of the collections available, while helping students and researchers identify key resource centres within the network. Enhanced cooperation will allow the institutions to make better use of their complementary holdings and services.

To advance these two priorities, two dedicated working groups will be established.

Shared perspectives to be promoted

The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss a future travelling exhibition dedicated to the libraries of the Eucor network. This exhibition is set to be displayed in various Eucor libraries, helping to increase the network’s visibility and showcase its collective efforts.

With these initiatives, the Eucor libraries reaffirm their central role within the alliance and the Upper Rhine region, fostering access to knowledge and promoting ever-closer collaboration between partner institutions.