Prof. Gerhardus Lammers (1642–1719)

Also professor of medicine, ethics, and physics. Gerhardus Lammers was twenty-six years old when he became librarian, the youngest person ever to be appointed. Immediately he drafted a new set of library rules which was upheld until 1815. Lammers was in office when in 1672 the city of Groningen was besieged by the bishop of Münster (“Bommen Berend”). The University Library remained undamaged. Because of the library’s poor financial situation hardly any new books were acquired after 1672, and none at all between 1705 and 1727. In spite of this, the use of the library steadily increased. No portrait of Gerhardus Lammers is known to exist.