1807

Foundation of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology. Housing of the collections together with the holdings of the court and state library in the “Wilhelminum”, a former Jesuit college in today’s center of Munich

1840

Separation of the Staatsbibliothek, which has its own building in Munich’s Ludwigstrasse.

after 1840

Development of an independent zoological library from the libraries of conservators, adjuncts and assistants of the ZSM

since 1905

Co-administration of the library of the Munich Entomological Society

since 1909

Co-administration of the library of the Ornithological Society of Bavaria

from 1939

Construction of today’s library by director Dr Walter Forster, a passionate entomologist, who greatly increased the holdings with great dedication and with the help of the exchange of journals. He also developed the system according to which the holdings – usually arranged according to the zoological system – are structured and set up.

1943

Moving the library to Ohlstadt, where it survives the Second World War unscathed.

1946-1985

Provisional accommodation in Nymphenburg Palace

1954

The library receives its first own librarian

since 1985

Accommodation in a modern new building in Obermenzing, where all holdings are placed in an air-conditioned magazine in a compact system. The old, valuable works are in a separate, enclosed part.

Directors of the library

1954 – 1974 Gisela Mauermayer
1975 – 1988 Ingrid Weigel
since 1989 Juliane Diller