The Library of Lost Books project has grown again. Building on two years of international engagement, we are pleased to introduce the Lost Books Lab Baden-Württemberg, which was launched on 1 May 2026.
Funded by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung’s ‘Education against Anti-Semitism’ programme, the Lab brings together the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies, the Friends and Sponsors of the Leo Baeck Institute, and the LBI Jerusalem.
Its focus is the professional sphere: trainees and employees work hands-on with looted books, learning how antisemitism operated through administrative and corporate structures, and reflecting on what this history means for practices of inclusion today.
In three-hour workshops held with local libraries, participants investigate provenance marks, trace former Jewish owners and document their findings – combining historical education, active research and ethical reflection.
As Ambassador (ret.) Shimon Stein, Chair of the Friends and Sponsors of the LBI, has stressed, this format enables participants to make their own contribution to addressing the injustice of Nazi looting.
The wider project has already received significant recognition, including the Grimme Online Award 2024 and the Bronze Prize at the German PR Awards 2025.
LBI London remains the UK hub for this work and we invite you to explore the online exhibition at https://libraryoflostbooks.leobaeck.org and to join the ongoing search for lost books in Britain and beyond.
