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Lending Rules for a Göttingen Library (1769)

Abstract

This 1769 lending library catalog from Göttingen lists the library’s rules and fees, as well as the titles available for loan, including journals, moral books, history, belles-lettres, and “books of mixed contents.” The last category is particularly interesting, because it encompasses diverse titles and includes works on religion, medicine, natural history, and so forth. The eighteenth century witnessed the growth of lending libraries (initially sponsored by publishers) and reading circles. By 1800, almost every city in Germany had at least one lending library.

Source

Lending Rules
for Managing the Lending of Books

1.
Whoever wishes to peruse a book must prepay the borrowing fee in the amount listed in this catalog. Once the process is set in motion, this fee should be lowered; without such fee, however, no book can be lent out.

2.
The books are lent to everyone with the greatest trust and without deposit, because one has the utmost faith in all honorable gentlemen that the books will be returned properly and undamaged, or that any accidental damage will be compensated for. But in the unexpected event that someone takes a borrowed book home with him, by no means will honest patrons have to cover the costs, nor will a security deposit be demanded for future borrowing. Instead, a complaint will be submitted to the appropriate office, regardless of how insignificant the book may be.

3.
In addition to prepayment of the borrowing fee listed in this directory, a loan slip will be issued for each book; it will specify the allowed reading period in this format. For example:

No. 1, Kraft’s Theological Library, 1st vol.
On loan for 6 days from October 14 to 19, 1769.
N.N.N.

When the book is returned, the loan slip will be marked accordingly and given back.

4.
Under no circumstances may a book be kept for longer than the lending period specified in the catalog. The book must be returned properly and undamaged by the end of the day entered on the loan slip.

5.
If someone wishes to keep a book beyond its due date, then, upon submission of a new prepayment, the loan slip may be extended for a period no longer than the previously allowed number of days. Whoever does not comply, however, and tacitly keeps the borrowed book beyond the time allowed, must pay 6 pence for every day past the due date.

6.
Nevertheless, no book may be kept for longer than 14 days; an exception can be made if no one else requests the book during that period, and if the expired loan slip is properly extended, in each case with prepayment of the borrowing fee.

7.
Whoever unlawfully keeps a book past its due date, and disregards reminders, has himself to blame should he be obliged by the authorities to return it at his own expense.

8.
Anyone who returns a borrowed book before its due date cannot request partial reimbursement for the prepaid borrowing fee. This would create too much administrative confusion.

9.
Whoever returns a book in damaged and wholly unusable condition must pay for it. Whoever soils it or returns it with ink stains must pay 1, 2, or more 10-cent pieces, depending on the nature of the defects or damages.

10.
The following rule must also be observed when books are borrowed: If a book has already been lent out, then the names of other gentlemen who wish to borrow it will be entered on a list according to time, order, and sequence, so that the next person [on the waiting list] always receives the book as soon as it is returned.

11.
As an extra convenience for our gentlemen readers, there is an attendant, who, for a very modest fee, will bring and collect books and orders upon request. Those who wish to use this helpful service should make it known at the information counter.

12.
Not more than one book at a time may be lent to any individual.

13.
This printed catalog[1] shows which books may be lent, for how many days, and for what fee. It is available for 3 Mgr. (30 pence) at the information counter.

Books Number

Journals.

Lending period

10 cent fee

1 cent fee

1

F.W. Kraft’s New Theological Library, 1st volume, Leipzig 746. & 47.

6 days

2

2

2

The same, 2nd volume. ib. 747.

6 -

2

2

3

- 3rd - ib. 748.

6 -

2

2

4

- 4th - ib. 749.

6 -

2

2

5

- 5th - ib. 750

6 -

2

2

6

- 6th - ib. 751

6 -

2

2

7

- 7th - ib. 752

6 -

2

2

8

- 8th - ib. 753

6 -

2

2

9

- 9th - ib. 754

6 -

2

2

10

- 10th - ib. 755

6 -

2

2

11

- 11th - ib. 756

6 -

2

2

12

- 12th - ib. 757

6 -

2

2

13

- 13th - ib. 758

6 -

2

2

14

- 14th - ib. 759

6 -

2

2

15

The same list for the first 10 volumes ib. 758

3 -

1

-

16

The same list for the last 4 volumes ib. 759

3 -

1

-

17

J. A. Ernesti, New Theological Library, vol. 9, parts 1 and 2,. Leipz. 768.

3 -

1

1

18

The same, 9th vol., parts 3 and 4 ib. 768

3 -

1

1

19

The same, 9th vol., parts 5, 6 and 7 ib. 768

4 -

1

4

20

The same, 9th vol., part 8 ib. 769 -

2 -

-

6

21

Acta historico-ecclesiastica, 1st volume, with appendix. Leipz. und Weimar 734.

6 -

2

2

22

The same - - 2nd - ib. 737.

6 -

2

2

23

The same - - 3rd - ib. 742.

6 -

2

2

24

The same - - 4th - ib. 740.

6 -

2

2

25

The same - - 5th - ib. 743.

6 -

2

2

26

The same - - 6th - ib. 742.

6 -

2

2

27

The same - - 7th volume ib. 743.

6 days

2

2

28

The same - - 8th - ib. 744.

6 -

2

2

29

Articles about the Actis Eccles. 1st volume. Weimar 746.

6 -

2

2

30

Noua acta Historico-ecclesiastica, 8th volume, Weimar 768 and 769.

6 -

2

2

31

The same, 9th volume, part 65 ib. 769.

3 -

1

-

32

Theological Reports from New Books and Writings, parts 61 & 62. Danzig 768.

3 -

1

-

33

The same, parts 63, 64, & 65 ib. 769. -

4 -

1

4

34

The same, part 66. ib. 769. -

2 -

-

6

35

The same, part 67. ib. 769. -

2 -

-

6

36

The same, part 68. ib. 769. -

2 -

-

6

37

The same, part 69. ib. 769. -

2 -

-

6

38

News from Peculiar Theological Writings 768, 3rd volume, parts 1, 2 & 3 - -

6 -

2

2

39

3rd volume, part 4, ib. 769. - -

3 -

1

-

40

von Selchow, Legal Library. Göttingen 768, 3rd volume, part 1 - -

4 -

1

4

41

The same, ib. 769, 3rd volume, part 2 - -

4 -

1

4

42

A. Fr. Schott’s Impartial Criticism of New Legal Texts. Leipz. 769. Parts 1 & 2 - -

4 -

1

4

43

The same - ib. 769, part 3 - -

3 -

1

-

44

- - ib. 769, part 4 - -

3 -

1

-

45

- - ib. 769, part 5 - -

3 -

1

-

46

- - ib. 769, part 6 - -

3 -

1

-

47

- - ib. 769, part 7 - -

3 -

1

-

48

Commentary on the Mysteries of Natural and Medical Sciences [Comment. de rebus in scientia naturali & medicina], Lips. 769. Vol. XV. p. I. -

4 -

2

4

49

R. A. Vogel’s New Medical Library. Göttingen 767. 7th Volume -

6 -

1

2

50

Riedel’s Philosophical Library. Halle 769, part 1. -

3 -

1

-

[…]

Books

Number

Moral Books in the Broadest Sense.

Lending period

10 cent fee

1 cent fee

75

J. H. C. Zahn, Letters to Free Thinkers. Eisenach 1764. -

4 [days]

1

4

76

S. C. Hollmann, Convincing Lecture on God and Scripture. Leipzig 748. -

6 -

2

4

77

Jacob Serenius, Collected Testimonies on Jesus by Heathens. Göttingen 758. -

4 -

1

2

78

Moral Essays for use by the Princes of Hildbourghausen [Essai de Morale pour l’usage de M. le Princes de Hildbourghausen]. 721. -

3 -

1

-

79

C. G. Jacobi, Established Truths of the Christian Religion. Magdeb. 765. -

3 -

1

-

80

F. C. Lesser’s Insecto-Theology. Frankf. u. Leipz. 738.

6 -

2

-

81

The same, Testaceo-Theol., with plates. Leipz. 744.

6 -

2

4

82

Joach. Oporius, History of the Belief in World Salvation based on Respect for the Divine. Hanover 749. -

4 -

1

4

83

Same author, Religion and Hope in Death. Göttingen 751.

4 -

1

4

84

Same author, Second Revised Series of Messianic Prophecies. Gött. 753.

6 -

2

4

94

Isaac Watts’ The World to Come: or, Discourses on the Joys or Sorrows of Departed Souls at Death. Halle 745.

6 -

2

-

101

Onanism, or the Sin of Self-abuse with all its Damaging Consequences, along with Spiritual and Corporeal Advice. Leipzig 765

6 -

2

-

124

Johann Arend, Complete Books of True Christianity, with plates, Leipz. 750. -

6 -

3

-

125

Adam Bernd’s Truth of the Christian Lutheran Religion. Leipzig 734. -

6 -

2

-

126

The Power of God on Small Children in Six Noteworthy Examples. Magdeb. 747. -

4 -

1

-

127

S. Tappen, True Images of the Christian Religion. Hildesheim 737. -

6 -

2

-

128

Guden’s Sunday Lessons. Leipzig 736.

6 -

2

-

129

The Essence of Religion, Examined through Reason and the Scripture. Leipz. 744.

4 -

1

-

130

J. C. Kocken’s Testimonies of Truth, in the Sad Case of a Terrible Murder of a Nun. Hildesheim 755. - -

4 -

1

-

131

Thomas Stackhouse, Defense of the Christian Religion. Göttingen 750. -

6 -

3

-

132

Same author, Defense of Biblical History, 1st part. Rostock 752. -

6 -

3

-

133

H. Stebbing’s, Justification of Christianity. Leipzig 758

6 -

2

4

309

Collection of Moral and Satirical Writings. Zelle 745. -

6 [days]

2

4

310

Thomas Abbt, On Merit. Berlin 765. -

6 -

2

4

311

Religion by Mr. Racine. Leipz. 752. with plates.

6 -

3

-

312

Mercy by Mr. Racine. Leipz. 752. with plates.

6 -

3

-

313

Nothing is by Chance. Magdeb. 767. -

6 -

2

4

314

Letters, Stories, and Fables from the Moral Sciences. Leipzig 761.

6 -

2

4

315

Five Sermons on the Truth of the Christian Religion [Cinq Sermons sur la verité de la Religion Chretiénne]. Amst. 722. - -

6 -

1

4

358

Maria le Prince de Beaumont, Instructive Magazine for Young People. Leipz. 759. 1st volume.

6 -

2

4

359

Same author, 2nd volume, ib. 760.

6 -

2

4

360

Same author, 3rd - ib. 764.

6 -

3

-

408

Stoppen, New Fables or Moral Tales. Breslau 758. - -

4 -

1

4

[…]

Books number

Belles-lettres in the Broadest Sense

lending period

10 cent fee

1 cent fee

391

The Hermit. Leipzig 767. 1st part. - - -

4 [days]

1

4

392

Same author - ib. eod. 2nd part - - -

4 -

1

4

393

- ib. eod. 3rd part

4 -

1

4

394

- ib. eod. 4th part

4 -

1

4

395

- ib. eod. 5th part

4 -

1

4

396

- ib. eod. 6th part

4 -

1

4

397

- ib. eod. 7th part

4 -

1

4

398

- ib. eod. 8th part

4 -

1

4

399

- ib. eod. 9th part

4 -

1

4

409

Wahrmund’s Poetic Fables 748.

4 -

1

4

410

Letters of a Chinese Philosopher to his Friends in the Orient. Leipzig 763. 1st and 2nd parts.

6 -

3

-

411

The Death of Socrates, A Tragedy by Mr. Baumgarten. Berlin 741.
* * *
Books of mixed contents

3 -

1

-

111

Corpus Iuris Ciuilis cum Notis Dionys. Gothofred. Lips. 705. I.P.

6 -

6

-

112

The same - II.P.

6 -

3

-

113

Government Regulations for the Electorate of Brandenburg and Lüneburg 739. 1st part

6 -

3

-

114

The same - - 740. 2nd part. -

6 -

3

-

115

The same - - 740. 3rd part -

6 -

3

-

116

The same - - 740. 4th part -

6 -

3

-

117

J. J. Bock’s Complete Forms Frankfurt and Leip.750.

6 -

3

-

118

J. G. Estor’s Introduction for Attorneys and Advocates. Marburg 752. -

6 -

2

-

119

A. Fr. Kahn’s Basic Fencing for Beginners. Götting. 739. - -

6 -

2

-

120

J. C. Nehring’s Legal, Historical, and Political Lexicon. Gotha 736. - -

6 -

2

-

121

J. G. Bolzen’s Detailed Explanation of Institutions. Nuremberg 750. -

6 -

2

-

135

J. M. Franz, Friendly Encouragement for the Describers of the Natural World. Leipz. 756. -

3 -

-

6

136

J. B. Basedow, Convincing Mathematical Methods for the Enjoyment of Contemplation. Altona 763.

4 -

1

-

137

C. Pescheck’s Art of Calculation. Lauban 761. 1st part

6 -

1

4

138

The same, 2nd part ib. eod. - -

6 -

1

4

139

Hermann’s Clear Explanation of the Title in the Pandect. de regulis Iuris, with examples. Jena 741.

6 -

1

4

140

Herrmann’s German System of iuris ciuilis. Leipz. 735. - -

6 -

1

4

141

C. G. Knorren’s Introduction to Judicial Litigation. Halle 751.

6 -

2

-

142

C. F. Richter’s Knowledge of Man. Leipz. 741. -

6 -

1

4

143

C. A. Döderlein’s Two Treatises on the Use and Abuse of Human Reason in Divine Matters - -

6 -

1

4

144

J. F. Albert, A New Attempt to Prove that the Great Flood was All-Encompassing and Covered the Entire Earth. Nordhaus 752.

4 -

-

6

145

Belemnon, Curious Peasant Lexicon. Freystadt 728.

4 -

1

6

146

D. C. Errleben, Discourse on the Thoroughly Curative and Agreeable and therefore often Suspect, Healing of Illnesses. Halle 755. - -

4 -

-

6

147

J. F. Teller’s Reluctant Criticism of his Brother’s Textbook of Christian Faith. Leipzig 764. - -

6 -

1

4

191

The Doctor; a Medical Weekly by J. A. Unzer. Hamburg 769. 1st part. -

6 -

3

-

192

The same, 2nd part ib. eod. -

6 days

3

-

193

The same, 3rd - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

194

The same, 4th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

195

The same, 5th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

196

The same, 6th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

197

The same, 7th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

198

The same, 8th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

199

The same, 9th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

200

The same, 10th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

211

The same, 11th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

212

The same, 12th - ib. eod. -

6 -

3

-

213

Papers and Observations Collected by the Economic Society of Bern 768.

6 -

2

4

214

G. J. von Buininck, Collection of Noteworthy Legal Cases. Leipz. 768. 1st volume

6 -

2

-

215

The same, 2nd volume ib. eod. -

6 -

2

-

216

The same, 3rd volume ib. eod. -

6 -

2

-

217

The same, 4th volume ib. eod. -

6 -

2

-

400

Speeches to Donkeys by Laurenz Sterne Leipzig 769.

6 -

2

4

401

P. S. Pallas, Natural History of Peculiar Animals. Berlin 769.1st collection

6 -

3

-

403

Collection of New and Special Card Tricks. Vienna. 769. -

4 -

1

4

412

Elsholzen‘s Horiculture, a new large-format book with plates. Cölln 684. - -

6 -

2

4

436

J. J. Schübler‘s Practical Geometric Perspective [Perspectiuae geometricae practicae], with numerous plates. Nuremberg 735.

6 -

3

-

438

C. Heister’s Description of a New Species of Rare and Especially Beautiful Plant for Braunschweig. Braunschw. 755. with colored plates.

6 -

3

-

439

J. H. Junker’s Personal Physician. Leipzig 702. with colored plates.

6 -

2

-

441

The Striped-petticoat Philosophy. Chemnitz 705. 1st volume. - -

6 -

2

-

442

The same, 2nd volume ib. eod. - -

6 -

2

-

443

Bödicker’s Fundamentals of the German Language. Berlin 746. - - -

6 -

2

-

444

Huster’s Methods for Teaching Latin to Youth. Leipzig 769. -

6 -

2

-

445

Aesop’s Life and Fables. Nuremberg 747. with numerous plates.- -

6 -

2

-

446

The Flatterer, A Comedy. Leipzig 768. -

4 -

1

4

447

Cupid, a Painter, A Comedy. Leipzig 769. -

4 -

1

4

448

The Prescription, A Comedy. Leipzig 769. -

3 -

1

-

449

The Masterpieces. Göttingen 750. 1st and 2nd Collection.- -

6 -

3

-

450

The same, 3rd and 4th Collection. ib.754.-

6 -

2

4

451

The same, 5th Collection. ib.757.

6 -

2

4

Notes

[1] Please note: with few exceptions (e.g. some Latin and French titles), the catalog entries are German-language books whose titles have been translated into English. The original German titles can be found in the accompanying German version of this document.

Source: Verzeichniß derjenigen journalistischen, moralischen, historischen, belleslettrischen und andern periodischen Bücher und neuesten deutschen Schriften, welche in der im hiesigen Intelligenz-Comtoir ... nach folgender Verordnung ausgeliehen werden. Göttingen: Schulze, 1769, pp. 3–5, 6–7, 9–12, 25–28. Available online at: http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?PPN616569475

Translation: Bill C. Ray

Rolf Engelsing, Der Bürger als Leser: Lesergeschichte in Deutschland 1500–1800. Stuttgart: Metzler, 1974.

Georg Jäger, Alberto Martino, and Reinhard Wittmann, eds., Die Leihbibliothek der Goethezeit: exemplarische Kataloge zwischen 1790 und 1830. Texte zum literarischen Leben um 1800. Hildesheim: Gerstenberg, 1979.

Alberto Martino and Georg Jäger, Die deutsche Leihbibliothek: Geschichte einer literarischen Institution (1756–1914). Beiträge zum Buch- und Bibliothekswesen, Vol. 29. Wiesbaden: O. Harrassowitz, 1990, pp. 1–133.

Lending Rules for a Göttingen Library (1769), published in: German History Intersections, <https://germanhistory-intersections.org/en/knowledge-and-education/ghis:document-9> [November 29, 2023].
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