Taking AI in libraries to the next step

published 18.12.2025

To all professionals from libraries, archives and memory institutions: The next symposium of the “Network for machine-based cataloguing processes“ will take place on 29 and 30 January 2026 at the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main - two hands-on workshops will be held on 28 January.
The focus is on current developments in artificial intelligence for subject and descriptive cataloguing – from large and small language models (LLMs) to data quality and evaluation to sustainable infrastructure and operation.

• Register now

Live broadcast from Deutschlandfunk at the DBSM

published 18.12.2025

On 17 December 2025, Deutschlandfunk broadcast live from the exhibition "Forget it?!" as part of the programme “Agenda” under the title "Visible and stored forever? How we remember and what we want to forget". You can listen to the radio programme in German here.

Group study room in Frankfurt

published 16.12.2025

A group study room is now available at the Frankfurt location. It has workspaces for 2–6 people and a whiteboard. The group study room is located in the service area at the end of the media boxes and can be booked for collaborative learning during the reading room opening hours.

Stories between the shelves

published 09.12.2025

In our blog series “Between the Shelves,” we give users of the German National Library a voice. They come from different backgrounds and for different reasons. They use our reading rooms in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main as places to research, work, or study. In the interviews, they provide insights into their work, present projects, and tell their stories. Three interviews are available so far. We conducted the latest interview with Felix Krebber.

• More (only available in German)

Common statement on the management of artificial intelligence

published 14.10.2025

The German National Library, the TIB and the Börsenverein have engaged in constructive dialogue regarding the use of artificial intelligence systems, resulting in the adoption of a common statement on the matter. The focus was on the responsible, transparent, legally permissible and ethically sound use of AI. It is important to the participating libraries that everyday library work (such as cataloguing works) in particular can be supported in a modern and efficient way with AI tools in the sense of “machine utility“, enabling them to fulfil their core mission.

• More (only available in German) 152kB, PDF - Barrier-free file

Successful launch for greater access to cultural heritage

published 08.10.2025

Exactly 100 days ago, on 1 July 2025, the German National Library, VG WORT and VG Bild-Kunst resumed licensing for out-of-commerce works in order to enable cultural heritage institutions to legally digitise and make accessible copyright-protected sources from the 20th century.

• More (only available in German)