Library

Our library contains an extensive and unique collection of scientific medical literature with a global scope. Our selection of books, journals and databases spans multiple continents and offers invaluable resources to researchers, students and professionals working on health topics, including (but not limited to) tropical medicine.

History

Highlights of our library's history

1935 - Thanks to the transfer of a collection of insects and books from Australia and Asia, the library is able to acquire as many as 167 books, a record number for that time.
1952 - The library collection grows to 2,500 books and 245 journals.
1962 - G.Roelants joins as the Institute's first librarian. Under the influence of former director Janssens, more than 300 journals were bound and the publication of the Annals of the Belgian Society of Tropical Medicine started.

1965 - The books were reclassified in accordance with the Barnard Classification for Medical and Veterinary Libraries. The process of lending became possible.
1975 - 1985 - The central wing was remodelled and a fourth floor was added, housing the new library.
1988 - The Institute negotiated the transfer of drawing rights on bonds with UFSIA, now UAntwerpen. The money would later be used to finance the new library building.

1994 - All databases can be consulted from the Institute's various units.
2004 - DocDel, a programme for the electronic delivery of documents from the library, was commissioned.
2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic sparked digitisation in the library. There is more focus on online learning and artificial intelligence.
Present - Our current collection includes 25,000 books, over 1,000 e-books and about 10,000 academic journals, most of which have been digitised and can be found on the library's website.