"And King Louen did wield the Sword of Couronne, and he did slay the herds of beasts and the tide of green death that threatened the fair land of Bretonnia! It is written, oh yes -- it's all here in the finest scribe's hand!"
- —Andreas Halldenstadt, Head Scribe at the Great Library of Altdorf[3]
The Great Library is a public library in Altdorf and one of the largest Verenan libraries in the Old World.[1a][2b]
The Great Library is very old. In the early days of the Empire of Man, it housed copies of the writings of the High Elven physician Gaelen and original laws and treaties from the reign of Emperor Sigmar. Those scrolls have long since decomposed, but the texts were copied, bound, and preserved by later scribes.[4a]
The Temple of Verena connects the Great Library to the University of Altdorf, and it's often mistaken for an official part of that institution. In reality, it is open to anyone able to pay a small fee. Of course, this is irrelevant to the vast majority of Altdorfers, who are illiterate.[1a][2a]
The library contains books on subjects including the natural sciences and Reikland history, some of which date back hundreds of years. The library's books can't be checked out, but must be read within the building. The books are catalogued by a very complex system.[1a] [4a]
Aside from university students, the library attracts curious apprentices and magisters from the Colleges of Magic. The colleges have an agreement with the library securing free access for their members. University students therefore often attempt to gain free entry into the library by impersonating wizards. This ploy only rarely works.[1a]
Many librarians are devout Verenans. Some are even initiates in the Cult of Verena.[2a][4a]
The Great Library includes an open, circular reading room and many maze-like annexes. Whenever the ever-growing collections exceed capacity, a new wing is built. The library's cellar vaults are kept under lock and key and only opened to priests of Verena and those High Priest Manfred Archibald approves. The vaults contain texts that the Cult of Sigmar would not approve of. Many of these volumes have been recovered by agents of the Order of Mysteries.[1a][2a][4a]
Ludolf Traugott, a Lorekeeper of Verena, tutors gifted youths at the library who cannot afford tuition at the university in keeping with his goddess' admonition that none should be denied access to knowledge who seek it out.[4a]