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DNB NEWS

What holds a society together

published 23.07.2025

Logos von ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio und DNB, auf einer Fläche mit mehrfarbigen Punkten

The topic of “social cohesion” is highly topical: almost 80 per cent of people in Germany are concerned that it is increasingly dwindling. A study by ZDF, ARD and Deutschlandradio now shows what holds a society together and what public media contribute to this. It will be presented on 17 September at the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main.

German National Library fills three new management positions

published 02.07.2025

A triptych of portraits of the three new domain heads Photo: DNB, Stephan Jockel

As part of its organisational development process and based on the Strategic Compass 2035, the German National Library has created three new domains which will take up operations on 1 December 2025.  The Collections Domain will be headed by Constanze Schumann, Ulrike Junger is taking over the Metadata Domain and Susanne Theile is going to be in charge of the Access and Engagement Domain.

VW-LIS will start again on 1 July

published 01.07.2025

Detail of a status display

Access to the German National Library's licensing service for out-of-commerce works (VW-LiS) will be restored on 1 July 2025. Tailored to the requirements associated with the (mass) digitisation of written cultural heritage, the licensing of out-of-commerce works facilitates the provision of legally watertight access to copyright-protected 20th century sources. Cultural heritage institutions can now register again for a VW-LiS account at the German National Library and file applications for out-of-commerce books with VG WORT.

Antitext

published 01.07.2025

Graphic of the exhibition Image: Literaturmuseum Charkiw

The exhibition titled “Antitext” by the Literary Museum of Kharkiv (Ukraine) will be shown at the German Museum of Books and Writing of the German National Library between 1 and 31 July 2025. The exhibition explores the ways in which censorship and the banning of literary texts impact a society’s cultural identity.

The digital annual report 2024 is here!

published 18.06.2025

Digital annual report 2024

In 2024, the German National Library tried out exciting new event formats, continued to grow and became more modern in many ways. The Strategic Compass sets the course for the next ten years. Take a look for yourself!

New Director

published 11.06.2025

Portrait Kathrin Brannemann Photo: Stephan Jockel

Kathrin Brannemann has been appointed Director of the German National Library in Frankfurt. The Administrative Council of the German National Library appointed Ms Brannemann based on the selection committee’s recommendation. The decision was preceded by a comprehensive selection process.
Ms Brannemann is currently the Library Director of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen). In February 2026, she will succeed Ute Schwens who will retire after more than 25 successful years in this position.

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