Navigation and service

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Opening hours and contact

Monday to Saturday 10:00–18:00
info-dma@dnb.de
Phone +49 341 2271-150

Are you new to the German Music Archive? Staff in the music reading room will gladly give you a brief introduction on how to use it. Just come and talk to us during opening hours or make an appointment here:
info-dma@dnb.de.

If you have questions or are experiencing difficulties depositing mandatory copies with the German Music Archive, please call us on +49 341 2271-511 or send an e-mail to:
erwerbmedien@dnb.de.

Reading room

Reference collection and stairs on the lower floor of the music reading room Photo: DNB, Fabian Witter

The holdings of the German Music Archive - sheet music, asound recordings and accompanying materials – and all media from the German National Library's collection are made available for use in the music reading room. You also have the opportunity to listen to migrated music from more than 700,000 CDs 50,000 music cassettes and several thousand historic sound carriers. The reference library offers you access to 3,300 publications and current music journals.

Equipment: 18 workstations on two floors, a web-enabled computer, 14 high-quality audio and computer workstations (four of which are also equipped with piano keyboards) with access to the catalogue and all online resources, WiFi (DNB network and eduroam); headphones and tabletop music stands can be borrowed free of charge. The music reading room is accessible by lift.

Workstation with monitor and sheet music opened in front of it on the left next to the stairs in the music reading room and sheet music opened in front of it on the left next to the stairs in the music reading room Photo: DNB, Fabian Witter

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Audio and computer workstation in the music reading room

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Notes on using

The majority of our collection is available to order via our catalogue. The media you order will be available the next working day (Monday – Friday). Any media you wish to use on Saturday must be ordered by 12:30 on Friday.

Analog sound carriers, like shellac or vinyl records,are generally digitised for use and made available at the reading room computers. If you wish to listen to analog sound carriers on a Saturday, we must receive your order by 14:00 on Thursday at the latest. The music on our audio CDs and music cassettes in digital format is directly provided at the reading room computers.

Please send any queries to: info-dma@dnb.de

Copies of any kind (smartphone photographs, scans, etc.) can be made as authorised by German copyright law. Sheet music (notes) may not be copied. info-dma@dnb.de

Do you need help with your research, or are you interested in sheet music copies and sound carrier duplication? Please call us on +49 341 2271-150 or send an e-mail to: info-dma@dnb.de

In accordance with § 4 No. 7 of the German National Library’s Conditions of Use, the media must be treated with care, must not be damaged and the sorting must be maintained.

The German National Library’s Conditions of Use issued on 02.10.2014 apply, as does the German National Library’s Fee Schedule published on 01.03.2020.

Selected Links on Musicology

Selected Links on Musicology A – G

Selected Links on Musicology H – M

Selected Links on Musicology O – Z

Listening booth and digital grand piano

IView inside a room with soundproofing elements on the walls and a large screen. There is a narrow workstation with a monitor on the left side. On the right, there is a digital grand piano. Photo: DNB, Fabian Witter

Do you want to watch a music DVD or Blu-ray or enjoy our music in surround sound without headphones? Then use our listening booth!
All users who enjoy playing the piano can also try out our high-end digital concert piano free of charge.
The grand piano is available to all registered users of the German National Library, if you are looking for a place to practise the piano with access to more than a million items of sheet music, you are warmly invited to visit us at the German Music Archive.

The listening booth and the digital grand piano can be used Monday to Saturday, 10:00 –18:00.
Please send your booking enquiry to: info-dma@dnb.de
Phone: +49 341 2271-150

The vacant/occupied sign will show you whether you can use the listening booth on the spur of the moment. Just ask us.

FAQ Listening booth

How long am I booking the listening booth for?

You can book the listening booth for any length of time up to a maximum of four hours a day during opening hours.

In exceptional circumstances, it can be booked for a whole day.

What can I use the listening booth for?

You can play on the digital grand piano, listen to the migrated music on our 5.1 audio system and watch DVDs/Blu-rays from our collections.

You can also play your own instruments in the listening booth. Please take note of the additional information in our FAQs.

Can I take sheet music, audio or audiovisual media I have ordered from the reading rooms or the media issue into the listening booth ?

Yes, you can take any sheet music you have ordered into the listening booth.

Electronically available audio and audiovisual media that can be accessed through our catalogue are not handed over physically. When you place an order, you will only receive the accompanying material.

This does not apply to data media with special audio output or audio settings that cannot be played back using digitised copies or images.

Please contact us beforehand. Staff in the music reading room will gladly help you look for corresponding materials.

Can I bring my own instruments and use them in the listening booth?

Yes, you can bring and play your own instruments.

Please tell us beforehand or send us an e-mail with the subject line "Listening booth" to: info-dma@dnb.de

Electronically amplified instruments may not be used. We do not provide amplifiers. Visitors are not permitted to plug in their own amplifiers.

How can I cancel my reservation for the listening booth?

Please cancel your reservation by calling us on +49 341 2271-150 or sending an e-mail to info-dma@dnb.de with the subject line "Listening booth".

Exhibitions and cultural offerings

Would you like to find out more about the music collection, the technical development of sound recordings and the German Music Archive's events?

Here you can find out about our current events programme or ask for a free group tour.

We recommend our virtual exhibition "Klingendes Gedächtnis“ (Acoustic Memory) for visitors wishing to gain an insight into the history and tasks of the German National Library's German Music Archive.

Short guided tours of the music exhibition usually take place every first and third Thursday in the month as part of the series "Music at Noon – from Edison Cylinder to Blu-ray". Please take note of the displays on site and the information in the German National Library's events calendar.

Collections

Join us on an exploratory tour of our collections and holdings.

More

Last changes: 25.08.2023
Short-URL: https://www.dnb.de/usingdma
Contact: info-dma@dnb.de

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