The Horror of Moving: The Tower of Books Faces Evacuation
Imagine the arduous task of assisting with a move that involves schlepping countless boxes of books up and down stairs. That’s the reality facing Mark Emanuel Amtstätter, who recently guided a tour of the ‘Bücherturm’ (Tower of Books), a 17-story building on the university campus that houses an astounding 1.3 million books (equivalent to 40 kilometers of shelves, stretching from the main train station to beyond Pinneberg).
When Amtstätter was asked about his thoughts on the impending relocation of the Bücherturm, he didn’t hesitate to exclaim: "That’s horrifying!" Yet, as he acknowledges, "It is what it is."
Amtstätter, a German studies scholar with a doctorate, oversees the literary estates at the Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (State and University Library). In addition to books, the Stabi (as it is known) safeguards the personal papers of approximately 400 individuals who have lived and worked in Hamburg. The oldest of these estates belongs to the scholar Joachim Jungius, dating back over 350 years. The collection also includes materials from Matthias Claudius, who penned the beloved evening song "Der Mond ist aufgegangen, die gold’nen Sternlein prangen," and Wolfgang Borchert, whose works range from the short story "Nachts schlafen die Ratten doch" to furniture and, somewhat curiously, a baby tooth.
According to Amtstätter, these estates offer insights into not only the individuals themselves but also the artistic networks that have flourished in Hamburg. He briefly disappears among the shelves, returning with a book by the author Hans Henny Jahnn, which bears an inscription to his colleague Hubert Fichte. Written in deep blue ink, it reads: "Für Hubert von Henny, Hbg.-Blankenese 4. Febr. 50."
Wait a minute, February 4, 1950 – can that be right? At the time, Jahnn was a renowned writer, while Fichte was just 14 years old. But there it is, in plain sight.
The Bücherturm, this magnificent repository of literature and surprises, must be emptied. And it needs to happen "as soon as possible," stresses Olaf Eigenbrodt, the Stabi’s deputy director. The tower has a serious flaw: its shelves are permanently installed, with their steel supports extending through the building’s floors. An assessment has revealed that in the event of a fire, the heat could easily spread throughout the entire building, endangering the irreplaceable original works.
Eigenbrodt and his team are now searching for alternative accommodations. Beginning in the early 2030s, the entire Stabi complex on the university campus will undergo renovations. And while no one has yet openly stated it, the Bücherturm will likely be demolished. By the mid-2030s, the books and estates are scheduled to return to the campus and find a new home in "high-density, automated storage facilities," according to Eigenbrodt.
Visitors will no longer be able to wander among the shelves as they can now with Mark Emanuel Amtstätter. But in exchange, the Stabi’s treasures will be safeguarded.
The majority of Hamburg’s residents are concerned about the state of democracy. Three out of four respondents in a recent survey express concern over the disrespectful treatment of others, particularly on social media. Additionally, 69% worry about the further rise of right-wing populism, and 63% fear a closer alignment of Germany with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
More than half of the respondents also perceive the country’s immigration policy as too liberal and are concerned as a result. Data for this survey was collected by Trend Research from approximately 900 eligible voters, commissioned by ZEIT:Hamburg and Radio Hamburg.
Participation in early voting by mail has already exceeded one-third of eligible Hamburg voters, with 35% of the approximately 1.3 million eligible individuals having cast their ballots. Those who still wish to vote by mail are advised to do so at their designated district election office or the central mail-in voting location at Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz. Applications for mail-in voting can be submitted there, and voting can be completed on the spot. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday at 3 pm. On Sunday, polling stations will be open from 8 am to 6 pm.
Tourism in Hamburg continues to grow. In 2024, overnight stays increased by 1.1% compared to the previous year, according to current estimates from Hamburg Tourismus GmbH. Among the factors contributing to the high visitor numbers were not only major events such as the harbor festival, but also the exhibition on the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich. A record number of cruise ship passengers was also reported, with approximately 1.3 million people visiting the city. According to Melanie Leonhard (SPD), the Senator for Economic Affairs, tourism is a "significant factor for the economic development of the city."
Pertinent Bullet Points:
- Warning strike in district offices: ver.di has called for a full-day warning strike in the district offices.
- HHLA increases annual profit: The port logistics company HHLA increased its annual profit by 60% to 33 million euros (2023: 20 million).
- Body found in Hoheluft-West: Police have discovered a body in the apartment of a 25-year-old man in Hoheluft-West. Evidence suggests a violent death.
- Jewelry store robbery in Harvestehude: On Monday evening, two unidentified perpetrators robbed a jewelry store in Harvestehude.
- Truck burns on A1: A truck on the A1 caught fire due to a technical defect, resulting in minor injuries to the driver.
Hamburg’s Electoral Landscape: A Sea of Posters
Hamburg is plastered with election posters, leaving one yearning for more personal space if they were a tree or a lamppost. The informational value of these campaign materials is virtually nil. Why is this the case? Daniel Haas, a writer for ZEIT:Hamburg, explores the reasons.
Election posters cannot be simply clicked away. That’s why they still exist. They are a form of revenge by political parties against citizens who can easily ignore politics on social media if they so desire. "Ha, Hamburgers, did you think you could get rid of me?! Here, take this: Katharina Fegebank, enlarged to 18 times A4. Peter Tschentscher in 18/1 large-format panels. Or Dennis Thering on what feels like ten thousand Vordermann posters, as these double-sided cardboard signs are called."
If one needed further proof of the political class’s narcissism, here it is. The city is covered in posters. Informational content: virtually zero. Some posters for Peter Tschentscher don’t even include his name anymore – all you see is his right eye, and his glasses reflect the HafenCity with the Elbphilharmonie. Accompanying this is the slogan: "Hamburg vereint" ("Hamburg united"). Whether Hamburg is already united (but on what basis? And by whom?) or whether Hamburg is a city that unites (whom or what?) remains unclear. The only certainty is that the face on display is poorly powdered.
The FDP also exhibits a penchant for the vague and uninformative. One poster features a very likeable-looking representative, Katarina Blume. Text: "Katarina Blume. She makes it happen." But what does she make happen? One is left to guess at the content. With a kebab to the sauna? With a hairnet to the hairdresser? With a wheelchair on the highway? Katarina Blume. "She makes it happen."
Volt simply displays faces, labeled with a first name. A woman in her early forties, gazing intently. Above her, it reads: "Maral." For most North Hamburgers, Maral is the name of a sushi restaurant on Eppendorfer Baum. Only with the help of Google can one discover that the candidate’s name is Maral Koohestanian and that she works full-time as a councilor in Wiesbaden. Or consider another Volt poster with the name Britta. Volt has a Britta Wollkopf, a Britta Söntgerath, and a Britta Peters, but let’s just say: This is the Britta with the trendy short haircut and the black hoodie. The rest (last name, function, platform) is just bourgeois convention anyway.
For a more detailed account of how other parties are presenting themselves in the Bürgerschaft election campaign, please refer to the unabridged version available online at ZEIT ONLINE.
