In March 2005, Paderborn University Library acquired the research library of Prof. Dr. Hans-Hugo Steinhoff.

Professor Dr Hans-Hugo Steinhoff (03.10.1937-01.04.2004) was Professor of Medieval German Language and Literature at Paderborn University from May 1974 to February 2003. He was a member of the founding rectorate of the then comprehensive university for seven years, from 1976 to 1983 as founding prorector for research and young academics. Steinhoff was a long-standing member of the doctoral and master's examination committee of the university's former Faculty 3: Linguistics and Literary Studies, as well as a member and deputy chairman of the library commission from 1983 to 1991. Since its foundation in 2000, he has been a member of the "Institute for Interdisciplinary Research into the Middle Ages and its Aftermath" (IEMAN).

The "Steinhoff Library" comprises approx. 2.800 volumes. The holdings cover the traditional fields of work in German medieval studies and also include the publications from the 19th century that are still in use, with a focus on the high and late medieval, courtly and so-called post-classical novel: All important international works are available here. In addition, the library also bears witness to Steinhoff's interests in the field of medieval reception, especially with regard to theatre, film and opera, as well as for general theoretical positions in literary studies.

The individual titles of the systematically indexed and organised "Steinhoff Library" are listed in the UB catalogue or in the NRW union catalogue and can be searched online. - An overview of the titles contained in the collection can be found here.

The Steinhoff academic estate in the true sense (correspondence, unpublished documents, ...) - which documents his research work and his committed involvement in university teaching and university politics - was left to the IEMAN by Sigrid Steinhoff. In spring 2011, part of these materials (eight folders with correspondence, expert opinions, examination documents, etc.) were taken over by the Paderborn University Archive. Among other things, an extensive collection of offprints collected by Prof. Steinhoff has remained in the IEMAN.

On the person and life's work: Hartmut Steinecke: Hans-Hugo Steinhoffs Vermächtnis. The rediscovery of Lancelot's "giant novel". In: Paderborner Universitätszeitschrift (PUZ), Jg. 2004, Heft 3, S. 10f.: digital.ub.uni-paderborn.de/download/pdf/2919026 - Andreas Laubinger and Jens Schneider: Hans-Hugo Steinhoff in Paderborn. In: Paderborner Historische Mitteilungen. Jg. 18 (2005), Heft 2, S. 207-223; bibliographically supplemented version with a photo in electronic version: Paderborn 2010: nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:466:2-7405. - Abridged version under the title 'Hans-Hugo Steinhoff (+1. April 2004)'. In: Lancelot. The Middle High German Novel in a European Context. Edited by Klaus Ridder and Christoph Huber. Tübingen 2007, pp. 295-300.