Borromäusverein

The Borromäusverein is a Catholic media and education institution founded in 1845 in Bonn, Germany. It is named after the Italian theologian Charles Borromeo (Karl Borromäus). As a voluntary association, it is supported by 15 German dioceses outside Bavaria and eastern Germany and is subsidised by the German Bishops' Conference. Its stated mission is to promote the reading of good books among people of all ages and to act as a competent service provider and educational mediator in the media market. The association's primary focus is on Catholic Public Libraries (Katholische Öffentliche Büchereien, KÖB). Together with 15 diocesan specialist offices, it develops services ranging from reading promotion to programmes for people aged 50 plus, and provides tips and working aids on library and press work. Its editorial department reviews around 3,500 new publications per year, published in the review journal "medienprofile". It also produces thematic literature lists for building library collections and for work with children in kindergartens and schools. In education, the Borromäusverein offers training and further education for church library practice in cooperation with diocesan offices, covering librarian, literary and spiritual competences. In reading promotion, it develops concepts and provides working aids, media packages and campaign materials such as the well-known "Bibfit" programme. It also operates the online lending service Libell-e.de for around 2,500 Catholic libraries, behind which the Onleihe system stands. The association has undergone significant restructuring since 2005. Its logistics were outsourced, and in 2009 its commercial sales and consulting activities were transferred to the newly founded borro medien gmbh, which was sold to Bonifatius GmbH two years later. Since 2017, library services have been provided under a contract with ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH. The Borromäusverein remains based in Bonn and continues its work in media review, education and reading promotion.

The Borromäusverein was founded in 1845 in Bonn, then part of the Prussian Rhine Province, under the name 'Verein vom Heiligen Karl Borromäus zur Förderung des katholischen Lebens und zur Begünstigung guter Schriften und Bücher' (Association of Saint Charles Borromeo for the Promotion of Catholic Life and the Support of Good Writings and Books). Its founding was driven by the desire to strengthen Catholic self-confidence and renew Catholic life after the 'Cologne Troubles' (Kölner Wirren), during which the Archbishop of Cologne was imprisoned by Prussian authorities in 1837. The founding fathers included Max von Loë, district administrator of the Siegkreis, and August Reichensperger, a Cologne judicial councillor and later Centre Party politician, who advocated broad popular education. The association was placed under the Archbishop of Cologne and had its headquarters in Bonn from the start. Local associations were established whose paying members could borrow books free of charge from the association library. By 1895, 1,712 local associations had been founded. From 1900, the Borromäus libraries were also opened to non-members. In 1903, the association began distributing a review journal called 'Borromäusblätter', renamed 'Bücherwelt' in 1906 and later 'das neue buch'. From 1974, the journal was published in cooperation with the Sankt Michaelsbund, responsible for Bavarian Catholic libraries, under the name 'das neue Buch/Buchprofile'. Since 1999, it has appeared as 'Medienprofile' to cover other media as well. In 1912–13, the Borromäushaus was built at Wittelsbacherring in Bonn, to provide dedicated premises for the library days first offered in 1911. The house is a listed building. In 1921, a library school was opened; it had to close during the Nazi period. In 1984, it was converted into a Fachhochschule for public library services, but the Borromäusverein had to close it in 2003. Since 2005, the association has undergone significant restructuring due to its status as a non-profit organisation, separating ideal and commercial services. In 2005, the logistics area was taken over by an external service provider, and 30 employees were made redundant. In 2009, the commercial sales and consulting activities, especially for Catholic public libraries (KÖB), were spun off into the newly founded borro medien gmbh, affecting 25 employees; the association then employed six people. The Borromäusverein remained the sole shareholder of the GmbH. However, two years later, borro medien gmbh had to be sold to Bonifatius GmbH for economic reasons. Cooperation between the association and the GmbH in the Bonn Borromäushaus continued. The association's staff was increased from six to nine to continue coordinating media recommendations and educational offers for library staff. Cooperation with the Sankt Michaelsbund in this area also continued. At the end of 2016, the cooperation agreement for library services with borro medien gmbh was terminated, and from 2017 a new contract was concluded with ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH. In the early 2000s, the association developed several programmes to promote reading among children and young people. The offerings 'Ich bin Bibfit' and the 'Lesekoffer' are aimed at kindergartens and libraries. 'Wir sind LeseHelden' is a reading promotion programme of the Borromäusverein within the federal programme 'Kultur macht stark. Bündnisse für Bildung' of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which between 2018 and 2022 funded diverse offerings nationwide for educationally disadvantaged children and young people aged 3 to 18. Since 2009, the association has awarded the 'bv. – Besondere Empfehlung' seal for monthly media recommendations in the areas of religious children's books, first reading books, novels and non-fiction. With the 'Erstlesebuch des Monats' (First Reading Book of the Month), it honours a children's book that stands out in content and design and can make an important contribution to reading promotion. In 2020, the association celebrated its 175th anniversary, counting among the oldest Catholic associations represented in the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK). Today it presents itself as 'an institution of the Catholic Church and a committed service provider' that offers a competent overview of the media market and acts as an educational mediator. Its special focus is on Catholic Public Libraries, for which it develops offerings together with 15 diocesan specialist offices outside Bavaria. It is a service provider for around 2,500 Catholic libraries and operates the online lending service Libell-e.de for them under the brand name, behind which the Onleihe stands. It is subsidised by the German Bishops' Conference. The Sankt Michaelsbund performs similar and broader tasks of Catholic media work in Bavaria.

• 2020

  175th anniversary celebrated.

• 2017

  New contract for library services with ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH.

• 2016

  Cooperation agreement for library services with borro medien gmbh terminated at year-end.

• 2011

  Borromäushaus sold; association remains as tenant.

• 2011

  borro medien gmbh sold to Bonifatius GmbH.

• 2009

  Commercial sales and consulting activities spun off into borro medien gmbh; 25 employees transferred.

• 2009

  Introduction of the 'bv. – Besondere Empfehlung' award.

• 2005

  Logistics outsourced; 30 employees made redundant.

• 2003

  Fachhochschule closed.

• 1999

  Review journal renamed 'Medienprofile'.

• 1984

  Library school converted into a Fachhochschule for public library services.

• 1974

  Review journal published in cooperation with Sankt Michaelsbund as 'das neue Buch/Buchprofile'.

• 1921

  Library school opened.

• 1912

  Construction of the Borromäushaus at Wittelsbacherring in Bonn (completed 1913).

• 1906

  Journal renamed 'Bücherwelt'.

• 1903

  First distribution of the review journal 'Borromäusblätter'.

• 1900

  Borromäus libraries opened to non-members.

• 1895

  1,712 local associations had been founded.

• 1845

  Founded in Bonn as 'Verein vom Heiligen Karl Borromäus zur Förderung des katholischen Lebens und zur Begünstigung guter Schriften und Bücher'.

A Catholic Church institution and committed service provider that offers a competent overview of the media market and acts as an educational mediator, with a special focus on Catholic Public Libraries.

• medienprofile

  Review journal publishing around 3,500 reviews per year, offering a competent overview of new publications on the market from a Christian humanist perspective.

• Libell-e.de

  Online lending service for digital media, operated centrally for Catholic libraries under the brand name, based on the Onleihe system.

• Bibfit

  Reading promotion programme for kindergartens and libraries.

• Lesekoffer

  Reading promotion offering for kindergartens and libraries.

• Wir sind LeseHelden

  Reading promotion programme within the federal 'Kultur macht stark' initiative, funded by the BMBF for educationally disadvantaged children and youth aged 3–18 (2018–2022).

• bv. – Besondere Empfehlung

  A seal of quality awarded since 2009 for monthly media recommendations in religious children's books, first reading books, novels and non-fiction.

• Erstlesebuch des Monats

  Award for a children's book that stands out in content and design and contributes to reading promotion.

1. 1Borromäusverein e.V. – Homepageborromaeusverein.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichteborromaeusverein.de
3. 3Wir über unsborromaeusverein.de
4. 4Wir in den Medienborromaeusverein.de
5. 5Borromäusverein – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Borromäusverein – Wikidatawikidata.org