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Wednesday, 22 May 2024

Wednesday, 22 May 2024: The German National Library in Leipzig will be closed due to a staff outing. The exhibitions of the German Museum of Books and Writing will open from 10:00 to 18:00.

From Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray

Book Fair

Group of people on a guided tour of the ‘From Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray’ exhibition Photo: PUNCTUM

begin 23.03.2024, 15:00

end 23.03.2024, 16:00

location Leipzig

Immerse yourself in the history of music and follow the development of sound reproduction devices and sound recordings.

We show you a whole range of music playback equipment: gramophones, a reproducing piano that plays automatically, and early sound reproduction devices for digital sound recordings . Different forms of musical notation, famous record covers and damage to sound recordings are also explained. From analogue media such as wax cylinders and records made of shellac or vinyl to the world of digital sound recordings – a tour of the German Music Archive at the German National Library will introduce you to the whole spectrum of music playback devices.

Along with the music exhibition “From Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray”, we will also show you the music reading room and our soundproof listening booth.

Information and contact

Booking: Registration not required

Costs: Free admission

Duration: approx. 60 minutes

Venue: German National Library in Leipzig, foyer of the historic building

Please leave your coats, jackets and umbrellas in the cloakroom. You will need one-Euro or two-Euro coins to store your bags and backpacks in the lockers.

Contact: k.kubitzky@dnb.de

Address and getting here

German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig

Getting here

We advise you to use public transport.

1 / By public transport

By rail

From the main railway station, take S-Bahn S1 in the direction of Riesa, S2 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S3 in the direction of Stötteritz or S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 7 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.

Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.

By air

From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.

2 / By car

Approaching from the north

Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).

Approaching from the south and east

Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.

3 / Accessibility

The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.

Last changes: 24.01.2024

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