22 January 2024 press release

Guided by the motto "KNOW MORE. With us", a number of important scientific libraries have initiated a campaign to raise awareness of the unique work they do for science and society.

Launched today, the campaign aims to highlight the social relevance of scientific libraries, their special tasks and functions and the wide range of services they offer as prerequisites for innovative science. This is because extensive political and social support for science-related infrastructures is essential to guarantee that independent cutting-edge research, teaching and development continues in Germany in the future.

At the start of the campaign, Dr. Jens-Peter Gaul, Vice-President of the German Library Association (dbv) and Secretary-General of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), said: "Scientific libraries are catalysts for open science and an open society. Together they provide the central information structures of science and continually drive them forward. The themes of open access, research data management, cultural heritage and long-term digital archiving could not be developed without the dependable services provided by the scientific libraries. Particularly in times of increasing social uncertainty and attempts at disinformation, libraries guarantee freedom of access to fact-based knowledge that has been subjected to independent review. In this way, they ensure that science, education and culture remain open to all."

During the campaign, the scientific libraries will communicate the wide range of amenities, services and benefits they offer in events, posters, social media campaigns and much more. The campaign is being supported by numerous scientists, including climate researcher Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif, President of the WZB Berlin Social Science Center Prof. Dr. Jutta Allmendinger, veterinarian Prof. Sonja Bröer, virologist Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann, President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, and Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research. They have issued a number of brief statements on what they believe the scientific libraries contribute to science and research. You will find more information about the campaign at https://weiterwissen-kampagne.de/

Contact person

Kristin Bäßler, Head of Communications / Press Spokesperson for dbv, baessler@bibliotheksverband.de, Phone + 49 (0)30 644 98 99 25

Background

Scientific libraries support research, science and teaching not only by providing literature and research data but also by preserving them and ensuring that they will remain accessible in the long term. In order to raise awareness of these services, numerous scientific libraries have joined forces to develop the campaign "KNOW MORE. With us." The campaign is a joint initiative by Baden State Library, the Bavarian State Library, the German National Library, the Göttingen State and University Library, the SLUB Dresden, the Berlin State Library, the Hamburg State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky, the Leipzig University Library, the University Library of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Freie Universität Berlin, the Technical University of Berlin, the University Library Mannheim, the TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology and University Library, the ZB MED – Information Centre for Life Sciences, the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics and the German Library Association e.V. (dbv).

German National Library

The German National Library collects, documents and archives all written publications and sound recordings issued in Germany since 1913 together with works in German and about Germany published worldwide; it then makes them available to the public. This includes all sheet music and music resources published in Germany. It offers a comprehensive range of services at its sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main along with digital services that can be accessed all over the world. With the German Exile Archive 1933-1945 and the German Museum of Books and Writing, the German National Library also has valuable and rich special collections. It regularly organises readings, exhibitions, presentations and concerts to draw attention to its treasures and promotes a culture of books, reading and music with a diverse programme of events.

German Library Association

The German Library Association e.V. (dbv) represents with its nearly 2,100 Members nationwide over 9,000 Libraries with 25,000 employees. Its main concern is to strengthen libraries so that they can give every citizen free access to knowledge. The association is committed to the development of innovative library services for science and society. As a political interest group, the dbv focuses on supporting libraries in the areas of information competence, media education and the promotion of reading and helps them ensure that every citizen can participate in culture and society.