The very beginning (1425-1815)

Talking of a university library during the first years of the Leuven university is not really possible. ‘Libraries’ were limited to a few collection of books, mostly in the offices of professors. The university had to wait more than 200 years for the opening of an fully-fledged central library. In 1636 the Latin scholar Erycius Puteanus (1574-1646), inspired by the famous contemporary Italian libraries, founded a library in the old auditorium of the faculty of medicine in the old Clothmakers' Hall on the Naamsestraat, the current University Hall.

This library continued to expand during the course of the next centuries up until the abolition of the university by the French occupiers in 1797 when it was moved in its entirety to the École centrale (Central School) in Brussels. The most valuable books and manuscripts were transported to the Bibliothèque nationale (National Library, formerly the Royal Library) in Paris.

Illustration: Eryius Puteanus by Anthony Van Dyck, created around 1627-1632. Source: British Museum, London