November 9, 2009 marks the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In commemoration of this important world event, the University of Cincinnati Libraries have created two exhibits on display through fall quarter in the Walter C. Langsam Library.

“Freedom without Walls!: In Commemoration of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989-2009,” an exhibit on display on Langsam Library’s 4^th floor lobby, displays a Berlin Wall timeline tracing the history of the Berlin Wall. Spanning over 60 years, the timeline begins in 1945 at the end of World War II when the Allied Powers split Germany into four occupation zones, and its capital, Berlin, into four sectors. Photographs along the timeline show significant moments in the life of the Berlin Wall including its construction in August 1961, President Kennedy’s 1963 “Ich bin ein Berliner!” speech, President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” speech, and the destruction of the wall in 1989. The timeline ends in 2009 as the world celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Brandenburg Gate 1989 (photo: AP Photo/Archiv)

The exhibit on Langsam Library’s 5^th floor lobby showcases library resources about the Berlin Wall. “Freedom without Walls!: The Berlin Wall Remembered, 1989-2009,” displays books, movies, song, and art that tell the story of the Berlin Wall and of those who lived with it. A bibliography is available online and in print at the exhibit.

Created by Olga Hart, Instruction Librarian, Melissa Cox Norris, Director of Library Communications, and Richard Schade, Professor of German Studies, the exhibits take their inspiration from the “Freedom without Walls! Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989-2009” celebrations being organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Washington. For more information visit www.Germany.info/withoutwalls.

The exhibits are free and open to the public to view.