Prof. Willem Adriaan Enschedé (1811–1899)

Also professor of mathematics and astronomy, later algebra and analytical geometry. Again, a successor was not found immediately when Van Limburg Brouwer had died. Dr Hecker, the academic assistant who had been appointed in 1844, served as temporary librarian from 1847 onwards. He was disappointed when in 1851 Willem Adriaan Enschedé was appointed librarian. Enschedé expanded the library’s services: from 1851 students, too, were allowed to borrow books. In the year 1863, a total of 5,670 books were borrowed and in 1864 the library had 742 members. The library rules were adapted and a new shelving system was introduced based on 69 main categories and 660 subcategories. A combination of Latin and Greek letters and numbers was introduced in order to indicate different categories. Slowly, the library’s financial situation also improved. In 1866, a new building was ready which offered sufficient room for the collection which now consisted of 30,000 books. When in 1881 Enschedé retired as a professor, he stayed on as librarian for another five years.