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Welcome to the Internet presence of the subject Study of the Book at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. On this website we provide you with the most important information on our institution in English language.
Brief information for the Book Industry
Graduates from Study of the Book in Erlangen: competent, enquiring, career-minded
Study of the Book, the subject concerning all about the book, imparts an extensive overview of this fascinating medium by covering the three categories production, distribution and reception. Our graduates are well trained in the specifics of the book and are able to convey them most capably. Media specifics – especially in a cross-medial comparison – are also part of the substantial study contents.
Fit for the book market's new tendencies
The students have gained a deep understanding for the fundamental historical knowledge to comprehend current tendencies and developments. E-publishing and e-commerce are not only important keywords in the book industry as such, but are deeply connected to the study course. Our students are thus fit for new tendencies and are able to pass on this knowledge in a competent way. Other very important parts in Study of the Book are the reader interest research and the research in reading as such. Accordingly, our graduades are able to draw conclusions for example about potential readers and also to interpret the Sinus Milieus.
Modularization for a comprehensive knowledge
Due to a module-based course of studies, the graduades also enhance their knowledge about the history of the book trade, about legal basics as well as about typographic aspects. They are able to easily and reasonably combine and correlate these singular elements and have thus a comprehensive understanding of the whole system of the book. The students furthermore learn to think in processes, what is increasingly demanded in the book industry today.
Analytical abilities and theoretical basics
Unlike the practice-oriented studies at a University of Applied Science, the Study of the Book students in Erlangen receive well-founded theoretical and analytical abilities. They are therefore able to discover interrelations and to evolve prospects. The combination of this course with a second subject generates specific competences that help the students to develop creative solutions and scenarios.
Brief information for the scholarship
Research as the basis for successful academic teaching
The institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen offers Bachelor, Master and PhD study courses on the basis of modern research fields concerning the book. This differs the university subject Study of the Book and use-orientated University of Applied Science study courses. But this does not mean that all graduates aim for careers in research. We believe that teaching on the basis of academic research conveys to the students analytical, problem-solving and self dependent thinking. Companies in the book industry more and more ask for these key qualifications. The reason is that the book market meets new and complex challenges: it is in a state of proceeding consolidation processes in the producing and in the distributing book trade and the book market is affected by media competition influences and multimedia publication forms and their business models. The teaching in Erlangen shall be understood as integrative: using several examples, the students already become familiar in the first semesters with the book scientific theories and modelling. The medium book is put in a communicative and social frame of reference.
A location strong in research: ranging from early printing to the current book trade
The institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen is very research-focused. Besides numerous academic publications, the professors and lecturers continuously implement research projects with third-party funds. The main organization to mention is the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (abbr. DFG; German Research Association), that sponsored several projects during the last years, for example the research on the development of the title page in times of early printing or on the “Melusine” of Thüring von Ringoltingen in the German print descent from about 1473/74 into the 19th century. These historical and multidisciplinary projects (Study of the Book, Art History, Linguistics and History of Literature) concern with the genesis of modern era modes of communication. Another project sponsored by the DFG is a modern one: the participation of the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen in the academic internet portal b2i that bundles different types of scientific information for the subjects Study of the Book, Library Studies and Information Studies.
The latest project is a digital story of the printed book in the German-speaking area up to the presence (in cooperation with the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich) in which several book researchers from Germany and abroad will contribute. In post-PISA-times, the project “Abenteuer Buch” attracts a great deal of attention. Several private trusts and promoters sponsor this project and thus help that children in kindergartens and primary schools become familiar with the medium book. In all of these projects, students are involved as collegiate and academic personnel. Main research fields of younger colleagues, for example on the audio book and the consolidation processes in the distributing book trade, which they established with their doctoral theses and special research interests, are also very important.
Looking towards Far East
Another focus is China and the Chinese book market. The Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen keeps in touch with its partner institution in Wuhan and has a lively exchange in the form of publications, conferences and a close personal contact.
The Institute and its teaching and research staff
Study courses dealing with Study of the Book are currently offered at four universities in Germany: in Mainz (since 1947/49), in Erlangen (since 1983), in Munich (since 1987) and in Leipzig (since 1994). All study courses put their research focus on different topics and strongly differ in their number of students and their equipment. During the last ten years, the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen developed a new concept and the number of students increased – it is besides the institute in Mainz the biggest one. Since 2008, the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen belongs to the university department of Media Sciences and Art History (Department Medienwissenschaften und Kunstgeschichte). The book as a medium and the communication via the medium book are thus the centre of the subject’s focus. The Bavarian Ministry of State for Science and Arts (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst) put the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen on a list of subjects, that should be strongly expanded – also with regards to the double Bavarian Abitur year in 2011/12. Therefore, during the last two expansion periods, two new positions for lecturers (one assistant professor and one academic councillor) were granted and two further positions are going to be added in 2010. Currently, the institute has got a professorship (held by Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg), one professor (W2), one Juniorprofessur for Book science / Book economy (held by Prof. Dr. Kerstin Emrich, one honorary professor (copyright / publishing law, held by Prof. Peter Lutz) and several lecturers with different research focuses. There are also assistant lecturers, who are working in the book industry, regularly support our teaching.
Personnel:
- Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg, professor, head of the subject Study of the Book
- Professorship of Study of the Book, currently vacant. Replacement: PD Dr. Thomas Keiderling, University of Leipzig
- Dr. Kerstin Emrich, professor (junior professorship)
- Hon.-Prof. Dr. Peter Lutz, honorary professor
- Dr. Günther Fetzer, university teacher
- Dr. Hans-Jörg Künast, research assistant working for the DFG project „The ‚Melusine’ of Thüring von Ringoltingen in the German print descent from about 1473/74 into the 19th century. Book, text and illustation“
- Dr. Axel Kuhn, research assistant
- Marina Mahling, M.A., research assistent
- Dr. Sandra Rühr, university teacher
- Anna-Maria Seemann, M.A, research assistent
- Dr. Volker Titel, academic councillor
- Nikolaus Weichselbaumer, M.A., research assistant working for the DFG project b2i
With a click on the names, you will get to the pages of the individual employees. There, you will find contact information, a short biography (in German) and a list containing all publications (mainly in German).
Cooperations and international affairs
Cooperation with the People’s Republic of China
The Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen is in active touch with several persons and institutions of the People’s Republic of China. The first thing to mention is the institutional acknowledgement. In 2007, a partnership agreement with the School of Information Management/Publishing Science at the University of Wuhan was made. This university is one of the ten best universities in China and the subject Publishing Science (BA, MA, PhD) is one of the most prestigious training posts for book researchers and book economists in the country. Due to the framework of this agreement, each semester two Chinese students have the chance to come to Erlangen and an exchange of lecturers is designated. Students from Erlangen are also welcome to the metropolis near the Jiangtse. The partner institute publishes an esteemed professional journal called “Publishing Journal“ and Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg is a member of the editorial board. Some Chinese students already had come to Erlangen to join the classes before this agreement was made. The first graduates (Cao Weizhong, Yin Haitao) with Study of the Book as a main subject finished their studies recently and their theses were published in the online series “Alles Buch” (meaning: all about books). Prof. Dr. Rautenberg is Honorary Research Fellow at the Chinese Institute of Publishing Science (CIPS) in Beijing. This institute belongs to the Publication Administration and delivers basic data about the Chinese and the international book market. It is the most influential official institute dealing with research about books in China. The recently published “International Publishing Blue Book” (Beijing 2009) about the most important book markets worldwide also contains a report on Germany, which was written by Ursula Rautenberg and Kerstin Emrich. In autumn 2009, parts of “Reclams Sachlexikon des Buches” (a professional dictionary about the book) were published in the publishing house of CIPS. The extensive introduction was written by Dr. Volker Titel (see: Die deutsche Buchbranche. Einleitung, Lexikon, Glossar. China Book Press, Beijing 2009; published by Ursula Rautenberg and Ulrich Jörg). Ursula Rautenberg furthermore publicises articles about current trends concerning the Chinese book market in the journal for the German book industry “Börsenblatt” and the nationwide newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung FAZ”.
Thalia dissertation grant
Thalia Universitätsbuchhandlung GmbH (Thalia West) supports junior researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and will henceforth allocate a dissertation grant of 24.000 Euro for one postgraduate of the subject Study of the Book. An accordant cooperation treaty was signed by Prof. Dr. Karl-Dieter Grüske (rector of the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg), Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg (professor for Study of the Book) and Agnes Wieland (manager Thalia West). The dissertation grant is awarded to outstanding graduates of the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen to write a dissertation belonging to the subject area “Market structure, business strategies and customer behaviour in the distributing book trade”. The dissertation grant was awarded for the first time in March 2007. The awardees receive for two years 1000 Euros per month; the grant can be prolonged in justified individual cases to 2.5 years. Thalia Universitätsbuchhandlung belongs to the Thalia Holding, one of the leading book trade companies with 134 book stores in Germany and 44 book stores in Austria and Switzerland. For questions about the Thalia dissertation grant, please contact Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg.
Student exchange within the framework of the EU programme “Erasmus”
The subject Study of the Book in Erlangen is engaged in the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg student’s exchange programme within the framework of the project “Erasmus” that is supported by the European Union. The aim of this programme is to give students the possibility to make study experiences in foreign countries of Europe, to advance their foreign language skills and to increase their chances on the job market. The Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen cooperates with its two partner universities Università degli Studi di Roma I, “La Sapienza” (Rome, Italy) and Rijksuniversiteit Leiden (Leiden, Netherlands). Each semester (i.e. 5 months) there is one place for one Study of the Book student granted. For further information about the “Erasmus” programme for Study of the Book students, please contact Kerstin Emrich.
Publications
The various educational and research activities of the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen can be seen in numerous specialist publications, for example articles in compendia and encyclopaedias, essays in professional journals and comprehensive research monographs. One of the most important professional journals dealing with the history of the book – “Archiv für Geschichte des Buchwesens” (abbr.: AGB, meaning: archive for the history of the bibliology) is with Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg as the responsible editor closely connected to Study of the Book in Erlangen. As a supplement to the AGB, the monograph series “Studien” is being published. In 2003, the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen started the publication of the successful online series “Alles Buch” (‘all about books’). This series contains peer reviewed specialist texts around Study of the Book. These texts are available on the principle of Open Access for free on the internet. The following pages provide an overview about recent publications by the Instiute and list completed and work in progress dissertations and all Magister theses from 2003 on which were written at the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen, as well as numerous Bachelor theses will do in the future.
Completed projects
Origin and development of the title page in times of incunabula and early printing
One of the most fundamental achievements of the early book printing is the development of an independent and singular title page (or several introducing pages: preliminaries or rather front section) which precedes the actual text. The main functions are the identification of author, text and edition, the appealing and advertising effect on readers and buyers and the introduction to the book. The title page enabled the academic bibliography as well as it still enables modern library catalogues. It took about five to six decades after the invention of the letterpress (around 1450) until the title page and its positioning (at the beginning of the book: recto) prevailed, particular elements (author, title, imprint, signet of printer and/or publisher, title illustration) changed their positions (before e.g. colophon, incipit, explicit, xylograph to introduce the text), moved forward on the title page, became rudimentary standardised and were brought into certain positions to each other (layout). Parallel to these changes developed the title on the title page. This process will be analysed with regard to book types, genres and language specifics (in Latin or vernacular) and to its broad, regional distribution (printer, place of printing, region and relationship between the regions concerning the book trade) on the basis of a catalogue of early title pages that needs to be developed. The period of investigation reaches from around 1450 (publication of the earliest title pages) to 1530 (final implementation and development of a typology). This project was sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (abbr.: DFG) from 1st January 2000 to 31st March 2002.
Internet publications concerning the title page at times of incunabula
The base for the project “Entstehung und Entwicklung des Titelblatts in der Inkunabel- und Frühdruckzeit“ (Origin and development of the title page in times of incunabula and early printing) was a database, that contains pictures of the examined prints’ title pages, key pages and associated bibliographic information. Interested researchers dealing with books and early printing can find this database as a part of “Verteilte digitale Inkunabelbibliothek“ (meaning: shared digital incunabula library) at http://inkunabeln.ub.uni-koeln.de/titelblatt. The project was sponsored by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft from 1st March 2003 to 31st May 2004.
Ongoing projects
DFG project on the “Melusine” of Thüring von Ringoltingen in the German print transmission from about 1473/74 into the 19th century. Book, text and illustration
The focus lies on the publication “Melusine” of Thüring von Ringoltingen as a (printed) book and how it was planned, published and distributed by the book seller and publisher in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Times, and how the buyer and reader used and received it. The detection, description and analysis of the first print from Basel by publisher and printer Bernhard Richel around 1473/74 until the end of the chapbook editions in the 1870s builds the base. The research relevant main objectives are the analysis of written dialectal, stylistic and rhetorical attributes, the kind and function of the illustrations (illustration cycle) in the book and on the title page, their iconography, the role of the different illustration originators and producers in the process of the book manufacture as well as the layout and typography of the book, which comprises the whole materiality of the item book. It should be opened up, how book production, book design, text design, reading and readers of about four centuries interacted. The project is interdisciplinary. Several subjects place their methods and specific questions: Study of the Book (book design, book trade, audience and market), Reading History (layout, reading manners and methods), Linguistics (language change from 15th to 19th century, text organization, the printers’ languages) and Art History (history of illustrations and media, relations between text and illustration, reading of illustrations, transfer processes). This project was subsided by the „Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft“ (German supporting fund for research) via the standard procedure from December 2007 until November 2009. The funding prolongation coasts down in March 2011.
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg (Study of the Book; supervision), Prof. Dr. Mechthild Habermann (German Philology), Prof. Dr. Heidrun Stein-Kecks (Art History)
Personnel
Dr. Hans-Jörg Künast (Study of the Book), Martin Behr, M. A. (German Philology), Benedicta Feraudi, M. A. (Art History)
Publications
Behr, Martin / Habermann, Mechthild: Die textgeschichtliche Tradierung der „Melusine“ aus sprachwissenschaftlicher Sicht. Die oberdeutschen Offizinen von 1473/74 bis 1516.
Hespers, Simone: Die „Melusine“ des Thüring von Ringoltingen in der Drucküberlieferung des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts. Untersuchungen zu Repräsentationssystematik und Rezeptionsästhetik der Illustrationen.
Künast, Hans-Jörg: Die Drucküberlieferung des Melusine-Romans in Frankfurt am Main in der zweiten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhunderts.
Rautenberg, Ursula: Typographie und Leseweisen. Überlegungen zu den Melusine-Ausgaben der Frankfurter Offizinen Gülfferich und Weigand Han/Han Erben. (All publications will be printed soon).
Project web page:Melusine
DFG project on the acedemic internet portal b2i for Book, Library and Information Studies
The central internet portal for Library, Book and Information Sciences b2i bundles widespread professional information of these three closely connected disciplines and merges them to a uniform search interface. Users can search on „Wissenschaftsportal Bibliotheks-, Buch- und Informationswissenschaften“ (b2i) (academic internet portal for Library, Book and Information Sciences, abbr.: b2i) at the same time with one single query in several tools for printed and electronic material, internet resources and fact information. It is furthermore possible to browse and navigate in subject areas as well as the formal search for authors or title keywords. This database is addressed to researchers, students and graduates of Library, Book and Information Studies who are already working in this business. The science internet portal b2i is a cooperative project of several institutions: Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SUB) Göttingen, faculty of Information Sciences (FH Potsdam), Informationszentrum für Informationswissenschaft und -praxis der FH Potsdam, Kompetenznetzwerk für Bibliotheken (abbr.: KNB) at the Deutscher Bibliotheksverband Berlin (abbr.: DBV) and the subject Study of the Book of the Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. Since 1st of January 2008 the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich has got the main responsibility for b2i. From 1st of March 2007 to 30th of June 2008, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (the most important research sponsorship association in Germany ; abbr.: DFG) sponsored the participation of Study of the Book Erlangen in the academic internet portal b2i by financing one academic job position, several student assistant positions and tangible assets. The Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen is engaged in the framework of this project amongst other things in the development of a subject gateway that detects relevant websites on book research related topics and makes them accessible (www.b2i.de/b2iGuide/). Additionally there was the conceptual development of a professional bibliographic database for Study of the Book (www.buchwissenschaft.info), in which several book research related library catalogues and bibliographies (e.g. OPAC of St. Galler Zentrum für das Buch, “Wolfenbütteler Bibliographie zur Geschichte des Buchwesens im deutschen Sprachgebiet” (abbr.: WBB) and “Bibliographie der Buch- und Bibliotheksgeschichte” (abbr.: BBB)) were brought together. All the information resources offered on b2i can be used for free to do easy literature research at home when writing a research or qualification thesis. Recently the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG approved to an application of the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen for a further enlargement of the book research parts of the academic internet portal b2i. The financial support of DFG for personnel and tangible assets helps the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen to develop during the next phase an e-learning module to impart information competence and also to further extend the subject gateway b2i-guide. The realisation is carried out in cooperation with Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich and further partners.
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg
Personnel
Nikolaus Weichselbaumer, M. A.
Publications
Capellaro, Christof / Duntze, Oliver: Das Wissenschaftsportal b2i und seine buchwissenschaftlichen Inhalte. In: Rautenberg, Ursula (Ed.): Buchwissenschaft in Deutschland. Ein Handbuch. Vol. 2: Lehre, Fachkommunikation und Institutionen. Berlin 2010, p. 735–756.
Project website: b2i.de
A digital story of the book
The project is currently in the phase of planning and developing. There is currently no digital story of the book, which makes use of the electronic format’s possibilities on the internet. Therefore, we want to write the story of the book in the German-speaking area: beginning with Gutenberg and ending in the presence. New is the conceptual design with a systematic media term as its base. The structuring frame follows four dimensions: quality of allocation, organisation, institution and functionality. A stiff, chronological and one-dimensional frame was dismantled in favour of the four lines, in which epochs and chapters follow the historical records. Subdividing into temporal sections would lead to completely different results, for example regarding the technical history and the book trade’s business forms. This conceptual design qualifies for an implementation in an electronic format that offers access not only via epochs and time lines, but also via thematic clusters. Bringing these single system parts together will be very attractive, and multimedia elements can be embedded. The project developed on the initiative of the Institute for Study of the Book in Erlangen in cooperation with the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München (BSB) and the academic internet portal b2i. The project managers are Prof. Dr. Ursula Rautenberg and Franz Götz M.A., who is responsible for the BSB’s contribution. There were already two conceptual meetings at the BSB. Book researchers and book historians from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are involved in this project.
BMBF project 2nd-Product-Lifecycle strategies for high-tech devices to increase the innovative ability of small und middle-sized companies (2nd-Tech-Cycle)
Is there an influence of mobile high-tech devices on the innovative ability of companies? And if this is the case: how does this influence look like? How can the transfer of technology and knowledge be designed and arranged in a Second-Product-Lifecycle strategy? Is it possible to generate innovations by transferring technology and knowledge in the focused companies and how can this be generated? These questions are the subject of the research project 2nd-Tech-Cycle, that is sponsored by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The 2nd-Tech-Cycle is meant as an innovative conception that enables small and middle-sized organisations to use high-tech devices to activate their innovation potential. These companies should be enabled to generate faster product and process innovations. The role of the Study of the Book institute in Erlangen in this multidisciplinary project, which is mainly managed by the institute of Business Informatics III at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, is to test the practicality of the developed innovative conceptions, especially in connection with high-tech devices, on middle-class companies working in publishing trade with special regard to the efficiency and service updates.
Project manager of the overall project
Prof. Dr. Michael Amberg
Project manager of the Study of the Book component
Prof. Dr. Christoph Bläsi
Personnel
Dr. Axel Kuhn
Publications
Bläsi, Christoph: Mobile IT in kleinen und mittleren Medienunternehmen zur Prozess- und Serviceverbesserung. In: Wissenschaftskommunikation der Zukunft. Editor: Rafael Ball (Schriften des Forschungszentrums Jülich 18). Jülich 2007. P. 135–144.
Project web page
“Abenteuer Buch. Bücher sind Schatztruhen mit verborgenen Welten.“
Reading promotion for children from kindergarten to primary school. This project is part of the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen since January 2006 (“Abenteuer Buch” stands for “Adventure with books”). Project personnel analysed, developed and tested in cooperation with several kindergartens and cooperation partners strategies for reading and language promotion within the age from kindergarten to primary school. In November 2008, the engagement of the project was awarded with the Sparda Zukunftspreis “Bildung für Kinder” (education for children). The main idea of the project is not to centre reading or reading out, but the book itself: its production, its history, its usage in the daily life and many more interesting aspects concerning the book. To work with these aspects, the project team developed in cooperation with educators, children and parents the so called “Abenteuer-Buch-Bausteine”, this means modules to work with children practically. These modules deal with several problems and questions around the book that should awaken the children’s interest. The playful search for answers is connected with different pedagogical goals that address and strengthen several aspects of reading and media socialisation.
The project team currently drew as a first project conclusion in the publication “Abenteuer Buch. Ein Erlebnis- und Wissensbuch für Groß und Klein“ – a publication dealing with the comprehensive and practical experiences of the project “Abenteuer Buch”. Readers find here many ideas and instructions for activities around the book as well as many interesting and exciting facts about books. “Abenteuer Buch” not only works on projects together with kindergartens, but is also part of the KinderUni (meaning: university for children) and an event presenting the scientific spectrum of Erlangen and Nürnberg called “Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften”. But the project “Abenteuer Buch” also works on an academic basis: the international congress about reading promotion in kindergartens and primary schools took place in May 2008. The conference paper with the title “Leseförderung im Kindergarten- und Grundschulalter. Wissenschaftlicher Diskurs und praktische Initiativen“ was published in April 2009.
Project managers
Stefan Salamonsberger(Functional management, idea, conception) Dr. Volker Titel (Scientific management)
Personnel
Katharina Bartz, Melanie Ehrlich, Katja Oesterlein
Publications
Leseförderung im Kindergarten- und Grundschulalter. Wissenschaftlicher Diskurs und praktische Initiativen. Editor: Stefan Salamonsberger et al. Erlangen 2009.
Project web page
The institute’s study courses and final degrees at a glance
Study of the Book in Erlangen at the present time provides a Magister study course (which will be discontinued) and a Bachelor study course. Starting with the winter semester 2010/11, there will furthermore be a Master study course. It is also possible to receive a doctorate in the subject Study of the Book. In the winter semester of 2009/10, there were 402 registered students (amongst them 185 Magister students and 217 Bachelor students).
The institute and the subject Study of the Book in Erlangen are both well known in the scholarship because of their numerous research projects and publications by professors and employees. It is thus possible for the students to get involved early in research projects through student research assistant jobs. The best Magister theses are published with open access in the online series “Alles Buch. Studien der Erlanger Buchwissenschaft“ (meaning: All about books).
Bachelor study course
The Bachelor study course lasts six semesters and conveys elementary knowledge about the production, distribution and reception of the medium book with regards to historical and modern perspectives. Subjects of the studies are the book as a medium to pass on texts and illustrations in handwritten, printed and electronic forms. Further important study topics are the organisational forms and institutions of book-medial communication as well as book economics. The study’s focus lies on the distribution of book typical contents with the book in the code form lasting from the Middle Ages until the presence. Due to the digitalisation and its growing significance, the subject also concentrates on strategies in e-publishing and e-commerce. The specific peculiarities of book medial communication will be drawn up through the application of multidisciplinary methods and also through the comparison with audio-visual media. A dual competence should be reached: the ability to do scientific substantiated analysis on the one hand, and on the other hand the practice oriented knowledge of book related area of operations.
The bachelor study course was designed to pass it in six semesters. The studies consist of obligatory and required elective modules. At the end, each student has to write a bachelor thesis. Combined with a second subject, the Bachelor study course offers students wanting to work in the book industry the possibility to combine subject related contents of Study of the Book with focuses of another field.
The modules of the Erlangen BA-Programme (overview and description of the modules)
Master study course
Starting with the winter semester 2010/11, a theory related, consecutive Master study course Study of the Book will be established. This study course is designed as a single subject master lasting four semesters. The emphases lie on book medial communication with regards to historical and modern perspectives, the research concerning book utilisation, the analysis of the German and international book markets, e-business and cross media publishing, book media aesthetics and book design as well as book scientific project management.
The modules of the Erlangen MA-Programme: Overview and description of the modules
Doctoral studies
The professors of Study of the Book in Erlangen have the right to award doctorates in the subject Study of the Book. To do a doctorate, a Magister or Master degree is required, normally in a book scientific subject. Also foreign postgraduates and postgraduates of related subjects are admitted to graduate. Work that has already been rendered can be caught up or will be accepted. It is the graduation committee that decides about single cases. Normally, an enrolment as a postgraduate in the subject Study of the Book for the duration of six semesters is necessary. Since 2008, there is a „graduation programme media, book and iconographic studies IMZ“ (Interdisziplinäres Medienwissenschaftliches Zentrum, multidisciplinary media scientific centre) and Study of the Book postgraduates can inscribe.
Circle of friends
The circle of friends of Study of the Book in Erlangen is not an incorporated association but a fairly loose organized network borne by persons and companies of the book industry and by the corporate umbrella organization of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. Personalities in leading positions out of different parts of the book industry act as advisers and represent the organization. The circle of friends’ directorate controls with its chairwoman Dr. Martina Steinröder (Steinröder Publishing Consulting, Munich) the usage of the subsidies. Become a member of our circle of friends of Study of the Book in Erlangen and help to sponsor our subject, the academic work as well as students’ projects. The current annual subscription for a single person (tax-deductable in Germany) amounts 50,- Euros, the membership for a company amounts 250,- Euros. Of course, we also appreciate one-time donations. In case you want to support the circle of friends with a membership or a donation, please contact Prof. Dr. Kerstin Emrich, the contact person for the circle of friends.
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Harfenstraße 16, 91054 Erlangen
Fon +49 (0)9131/85-25964
Fax +49 (0)9131/29029
Email: kerstin.emrich(at)buchwiss.uni-erlangen.de
Contact information
Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Buchwissenschaft/Study of the Book
Harfenstraße 16, 91054 Erlangen
Fon +49 (0)9131/85-24700
Fax +49 (0)9131/29029
buchwissenschaft@buchwiss.uni-erlangen.de