In the Bamberg Bavarian State Library there is currently an exhibition "Treasures of eternity", of valuable biblical and liturgical manuscripts of the first quarter of the eleventh century, which were previously stored in the sacristy of Bamberg Cathedral, with the book collection of the cathedral library.
Many of the rare exhibits formed the basis of the library of St Henry II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (973–1024), who founded the Bishopric of Bamberg in 1007, which became a significant political and cultural centre of Franconia. Henry II took an active part in the reform of church life. Up to the present day, Bamberg is the only city that has preserved an imperial collection of original manuscripts of the Middle Ages.
At the "Treasures of eternity" exhibition can be found manuscripts that were created in the famous monastic centres of book production: in the cities of Fulda and Regensburg, as well as on the island of Reichenau on Lake Constance. One of the book covers on display is a cover for a bible which is made of ivory, gold and silver. Many of the manuscripts exhibited include illustrations of biblical scenes.