The founding of the Göttingen University Library in 1734 was a landmark: For the first time in library history the concept of a modern research library was put into practice and the institution became the first comprehensive academic library of European standing. Today, the Göttingen State and University Library of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, SUB) continues to hold a pole position: In 2008, for the fifth time in a row, the library took first place in the nationwide ranking of libraries BIX in the category »two-tier University libraries«. In 2002 the German Library Association (DBV) and the ZEITStiftung declared it »Library of the Year«. The holdings include more than four million volumes, 1.5 million microforms, 304,000 old and modern maps, 14,000 periodicals in print form, 13,300 manuscripts, 3,100 incunabula, 375 academic bequests and a host of digital items. There are also 143 independent divisional libraries at institutes and departments across the University. A digital library competence centre of worldwide renown, the SUB directs or participates in numerous research and development projects in this domain.