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.
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.
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!
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.
25 years of the Office for Library Standards (AfS)
published 04.06.2025
Credit: AfS, CC By SA
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Office for Library Standards (AfS) at the DNB. The core task of the AfS was and is standardisation work. Other tasks are the further development of the Integrated Authority File (GND) and the documentation platform of the Committee for Library Standards.
On 13 May 2025, Frank Scholze, Director General of the German National Library, was elected a board member of the German Digital Library (DDB). Ute Schwens, Director at the Frankfurt am Main location, becomes a deputy board member. The DDB connects German cultural and scientific institutions and makes Germany's cultural heritage accessible digitally, free of charge and at any time on a shared platform. A competence network of 18 cultural and knowledge institutions throughout Germany, including the DNB, is responsible for the development of the German Digital Library. Its content is incorporated into Europeana, the cultural memory of Europe.
Antitext. The literary history of Ukraine.
Touring exhibition
German Museum of Books and Writing at the German National Library in Leipzig
1 July 2025 to 31 July 2025
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