Press release
Leipzig, 5 December, 2005. The revival of the traditional "book place" Leipzig has experienced another impulse through the recent establishing of a sponsoring company of bibliology in Leipzig.
For the first time, the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig awarded its "Promotion Prize of Bibliology" in collaboration with the University of Leipzig. The prize went to Claudia Halbmeier, a student of the bibliologist ProfessorUrsula Rautenberg from Erlangen. The Foundation awarded her degree thesis about the "history of the Publisher’s Committee of the Association of German Book Trade in the beginning years of the Federal Republic of Germany". According to the jury’s decision the laureate has delivered a basic research contribution to the resumption of organised book trade after 1945. In particular, the jurors praised the meticulous and exhaustive investigation and analysis of documents and archival records.
As early as 1925, the Association of German Book Trade donated a Chair in book trade apprenticeship in Leipzig. Modern teaching and research in bibliology has also been established with substantial support of the German booksellers after reunification. The Chair of Bibliology and Book Economy, by the way the fifth in Germany, was transferred to Dietrich Kerlen in 1995. Professor Kerlen passed away in 2004. To honour his commitment the "Promotion Prize of Bibliology" of the Media Foundation of Sparkasse Leipzig is awarded annually from now on.
Currently the Chair of Bibliology is vacant, an appeal is introduced.
The "Promotion Prize of Bibliology", which is offered as a reward in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is annually awarded to a scientifically outstanding degree thesis. In future, the prize will be awarded at the Leipzig Book Fair; the prize money is 2.500 Euros.
Institute of Communication and Media Studies
Chair of Bibliology and Book Economy
Burgstr. 21
04109 Leipzig