Library of the Francke Foundations, Museum library in Halle (Saale), Germany

The Library of the Francke Foundations is a research library in Halle (Saale). Its baroque hall, built from 1726 to 1728 in solid stone, is considered Germany's oldest surviving purpose-built library building. The original shelving arrangement, with bookcases placed like stage wings, holds about 27,000 early printed works in many languages.

August Hermann Francke founded the library in the early 18th century at the orphanage in Glaucha, now part of the Francke Foundations. By 1725 the collection had grown to about 18,000 volumes, largely through the bequest of Carl Hildebrand von Canstein (1667–1719). A dedicated stone building was erected from 1726 to 1728; it is considered Germany's oldest surviving purpose-built library. In the 19th century it served as the school library of the Latin Hauptschule, and in 1952 it became a branch of the University and State Library of Saxony-Anhalt.

The collection reflects how education and faith were taught together in this institution, and you can see this through the materials on display. Walking through the rooms reveals how teaching methods were actually put into practice.

The location is within a larger complex with multiple buildings and functional areas that form a historical ensemble together. It helps to plan your orientation in advance since several different zones and collections can be visited.

The baroque library hall is a Kulissenbibliothek: its shelves stand free in the room like stage scenery, a layout probably modelled on English college libraries. About 27,000 old printed works in many languages remain shelved there, and the building of 1726–1728 is held to be Germany's oldest surviving purpose-built library.