Ettal Abbey Librarians Visit the Marshall Center Library

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Ettal Abbey librarians visit the Marshall Center library

Ettal Abbey Librarians Visit the Marshall Center Library

By Christine June
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies


GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Feb. 17, 2015) – Matthias Gabble and Frater Hieronymus Kleindienst, librarians from the Ettal Abby, a Benedictine monastery in Ettal, Germany, visit the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies’ Research Library Feb. 5 here.

During their visit, the librarians took a look at the Marshall Center’s legacy collection.

When the Marshall Center was established in 1993, resources from the former United States Army Russian Institute, which was founded in 1947 to support advanced research in Soviet and East European studies, formed the basis of the Research Library, becoming its "legacy" collection.

These materials included some rare books, items very difficult to find outside the former Soviet Union, and a collection of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty documents.

The visitors looked at some of the  older titles in the library’s rare book cabinet.  Perhaps the oldest title, said Marcia Hampton, library director of the Marshall Center Research Library, is "The Monarchs and the People of Europe" by John Frost - 1854.

The book entitled "Narrative of a Journey" From Heraut to Khiva, Moscow and St. Petersburgh" by Major James Abbott published in 1856 may be the second oldest volume, Hampton said. She added that they also demonstrated some of the features of the e-book collection with titles on cyber warfare and terrorism.  Hampton said the librarians were amazed at the speed for downloading and the check out capabilities.

The Ettal Library is home to 12th century volumes, making the Marshall Center collection look as Hampton said, “very young indeed.” For more information on the Ettal Abby library, check out Bibliothek Kloster Ettal.

The mission of the Marshall Center, as a vital instrument of German-American cooperation, is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships; promoting active, peaceful, whole-of-government approaches to address transnational and regional security challenges; and creating and enhancing enduring partnerships worldwide.