Iron Library brilliantly renovated

The Iron Library in the Klostergut Paradies Training Centre has been completely renovated and will be officially inaugurated on 30 November. The first renovation phase took place in 2005, and now the second phase has been completed. The result is the harmonious combination of old parts of the building and additions from the 1950s with the demands of a modern library. The final building stage lasted from June to November 2007. During this time, the historical Ernst Müller Room was painstakingly and thoroughly restored, while the former librarians' room was converted into a new and modern display room. 

State-of-the-art museum technology is melded in the display room with one of the Convent's oldest frescoes (dating from around 1500). The treasures and rare books of the Iron Library, some of which have not been publicly accessible for decades, are displayed here. An elaborate lighting technique makes the room seem at once both mysterious and dynamic. This bridge between the past and the future creates a sense of dynamic tension in the architecture. Literally and figuratively, everything has been dusted off and now looks brilliant. 

As of 3 December, the Iron Library is open to library guests and visitors (advance notification required; https://www.eisenbibliothek.ch/en.html). 

The Iron Library, a foundation of Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, was founded in 1948. With its collection of current and historical literature on the subject of iron, it is among the leading scientific and technical libraries in the world. The Iron Library functions as an international forum for research into the history of iron technology. Technology history conferences have been held annually since 1978 to promote research. The conferences are renowned for the breadth of the papers and their topicality. Scientists and guests from the world of business and industry meet at these conferences, which serve as a platform for an exchange of views.