Although the idea of lending works of art originated in Germany in 1885, the first library to actually do so was that of Newark, U.S.A., through the initiative of John Cotton Dana in 1903-4. Other countries followed suit - Britain before the end of the Second World War, Scandinavia by the late 1950s, and France, where in recent years over 30 picture libraries have been established with state support under Mitterand’s Minister for Culture, Jack Lang.

While in East Germany there are over 100 picture libraries lending mainly reproductions, in West Germany there are 61, lending exclusively original works. The Graphotek in Bremen Public Library is the third largest of these, and all citizens over 16 can borrow from its collection of over 2,200 works for eight weeks at a time, choosing either directly or, at any of the six branch libraries, from colour slides and catalogues.

The Bremen Graphotek has set out to build up a representative collection of German and international art from all periods, with special emphasis on contemporary art; prints make up the greater part of the collection, and reproductions are excluded. 720 artists are represented; 50% of funding is reserved for Bremen artists. Over 33,000 loans have been made in the Graphotek’s first ten years, with 75%-80% of the collection being out on loan at any given time. There has been a gradual trend towards more borrowing by schools, hospitals, etc.

The Graphotek has promoted 88 exhibitions. The last of these, on the occasion of the Graphotek’s 10th anniversary, displayed work by 70 artists illustrative of new directions in art since 1970.

The Graphotek also functions as a centre for information on art, artists, art galleries, etc., with reference books and art journals available for consultation.