In celebration of Vienna Pride, the Austrian National Library invites visitors on a special discovery journey. Special guided tours explore new perspectives on its collections, spaces, and stories, revealing historical documents, literary voices, and traces of diversity and queerness throughout the library.
An initiative by the Austrian National Library for Vienna Pride, this program invites visitors on a special journey under the motto "Que(e)r durch die Österreichische Nationalbibliothek." The series of guided tours aims to uncover new perspectives on the library's extensive collections, historic spaces, and narratives. Participants will encounter historical documents, literary voices, and traces of diversity and queerness, spanning from the baroque State Hall to the Literature Museum and the usually inaccessible book vault at Heldenplatz. The tours delve into specific aspects like "Que(e)r durch den Prunksaal," examining the history and present of the baroque jewel, tracing "rainbow traces" in imperial documents, and exploring the diversity of famous Habsburg personalities. In the Literature Museum, "Que(e)r durch das Literaturmuseum" focuses on queerness in Austrian literature, presenting new discoveries and familiar texts and authors within the LGBTQIA+ context. Additionally, "Qu(e)er durch den Bücherspeicher am Heldenplatz" connects architecture, history, and queer perspectives, making queerness visible as a thread in historical and contemporary collections within the normally inaccessible book vault.