Navigation and service

29 March to 1 April 2024

The German National Library will be closed at both locations. The exhibitions of the German Museum of Books and Writing will open from 10:00 to 18:00.

The German National Library issues a number of publications. In addition to the digital annual report, we also publish monographs for special occasions along with publications accompanying the exhibitions held by the exile collections and the German Museum of Books and Writing.
Our info material and publications are available from book retailers or from us directly (partly plus shipping costs). Many of our publications are also freely available online. Please make sure you provide your postal address when placing orders at publikationen@dnb.de.

Annual report

The 2022 Annual Report of the German National Library is the first time we are publishing the report online. Visit jahresbericht.dnb.de to read our latest annual report. In future you will also find an archive of past annual reports there. You can also download a short version of the annual report or even individual chapters if you prefer. Browse the key issues and projects, object stories and event highlights.

To the digital annual report

Wissensspeicher in der Bundesrepublik. Die Deutsche Bibliothek in Frankfurt am Main 1945-1990

Founded with US support shortly after the Second World War and in the run-up to the separation of Germany, the Deutsche Bibliothek in Frankfurt am Main, was hardly likely to be politics-free zone. Helke Rausch, a historian from Freiburg, has written a political chronicle of the Deutsche Bibliothek which completes the previous works on the history of the German National Library.

This work (430 pages, 8 illustrations, 40.00 Euro) was published by Wallstein Verlag in 2023 and available from book sellers.

The Deutsche Nationalbibliografie and its formats 1931 to 2030

Cover of the publication "The Deutsche Nationalbibliografie and its formats: 1931 to 2030"

The history of the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie (German National Bibliography) is bound up not only with librarianship but also with technology. Kurt Schneider’s publication (24 pages, 17 illustrations) explores the links between them. It takes the reader on an exciting journey through time from the historic print editions of the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie to the digital editions stored on data carriers, the online formats currently used and the formats that will be used in the future.
This publication is available online.

Online edition (german)

Online edition (english)

Umbruch, Aufbruch
1990 – 2020. 30 Jahre gemeinsam Zukunft leben

When Germany celebrates the 30th anniversary of its reunification in the autumn of 2020, one important part of this story will be the amalgamation of the two “national libraries” in the East and West.
In its publication commemorating the union of the two institutions, the German National Library looks back over 30 years of history (and stories) and ventures a look ahead at the cultural memory of the future, the future of cultural and media landscapes.
With texts by Minister of State Monika Grütters, President of the Goethe-Institut Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble, Director of the German Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, Director-General of the German National Library Frank Scholze, and many others.

You can read the publication online (104 pages, with illustrations) or order the paperback version from us free of charge.

Online edition „Umbruch, Aufbruch“

Order by publikationen@dnb.de

House of Europe. Europäische Zeugnisse in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek

The German National Library has compiled an illustrated book to mark Germany’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, a visual “trawl” of 40 million media that provides pictorial narrative access to our collections. The European image cosmos is enhanced by short essays by Aleida Assmann, Alberto Manguel, Yasmine Ouirhane, Simon Strauss and others.

This work (320 pages, 183 illustrations, partly in German, partly in English) was published in 2020 by Hatje Cantz Verlag. You can read it online or order the paperback version from us free of charge.

Online-edition "House of Europe"

Order by publikationen@dnb.de

History of the Deutsche Bücherei from the German Empire to 1990

Zeughaus für die Schwerter des Geistes (Armoury for the Swords of the Intellect; 1,349 pages, 78 illustrations, 2 volumes in a slipcase, 69.00 Euro) and Nationalbibliothek im geteilten Land (National Library in a Divided Country; 725 pages, 39 illustrations, 54.90 Euro) are both comprehensive works on the history of the German National Library. They offer exciting insights into our institution’s eventful history, which reflects the political extremes of the 20th century and the development of library policy as academic and cultural policy to an extraordinary degree.

Sören Flachowsky from the Department of History the Humboldt University of Berlin investigates the role of the Deutsche Bücherei during the Nazi era. Christian Rau from the Institute of Contemporary History in Berlin sheds light on the complex relations with the SED regime and the Deutsche Bibliothek founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1946.

Both volumes were published by Wallstein Verlag in 2018. You can read them online or buy bound copies from booksellers.

Online-edition Zeughaus für die Schwerter des Geistes

Online-edition Nationalbibliothek im geteilten Land

Dialog mit Bibliotheken

From 1989 to 2022, our specialised journal "Dialog mit Bibliotheken" was published twice a year, in time for the book fairs in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main.
It was always important for us to stay in touch with the library world through this journal: Results of cooperations and projects in which we are involved, progress on new procedures, news from the committees in which we cooperate. We also talked about new services, our exhibition work, special events and our special collections.
You can read the issues of "Dialog" online.

Online-edition "Dialog mit Bibliotheken"

Search. Find. Explore. Info brochure

What does the German National Library do, and how does it work? Would you like a handy, compact overview of the history and tasks of Germany’s biggest library to refer to at your convenience? A concise, clear description of everything you need to know is provided in the info brochure “Search. Find. Explore”
The brochure (50 pages, 31 illustrations), which is available in both German and English, can be ordered from us free of charge. We will gladly also send you small quantities, e.g. for classroom use.

Order by publikationen@dnb.de

Further publications

Architectural guide: German National Library in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main

The building complex in Leipzig and the new building in Frankfurt am Main in one reversible book: this compact, informative architectural guide was published by Stadtwandel Verlag (“Die neuen Architekturführer” vol. 181). Author Bernd Hettlage describes the architectural structure and details of the interiors and exteriors of these very different buildings. He describes their construction history, introduces the architects involved and explains how the special task of a national library is reflected in its architecture. The photos by Brigida Gonzales allow you to take a virtual stroll through our buildings.

The architectural guide (68 pages, 45 illustrations) is available from book sellers or at the library for 5.00 Euro.

Das ABC der DNB

At the end of 2019, Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann retired after more than 20 years as Director General of the German National Library. The occasion was commemorated by the creation of this lexicon, which contains 269 individual contributions that provide insights into the German National Library's work over the last two decades from widely varying perspectives and describes developments in topics of current interest.

This work (504 pages with illustrations) was published by Dr. Ernst Hauswedell Verlag. You can read it online or buy a printed work from booksellers for 39.00 Euro

Online-edition „Das ABC der DNB“

HUNDERT. Das Jubiläumsmagazin

In 2012, four editions of an anniversary magazine were published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the German National Library. The magazines focus on language, sound, thought and reading respectively. They describe the work, topics addressed and services provided by the National Library. Each edition also features a short story, an essay, interviews, staff portraits and a presentation of typical Library users.

Online-edition "HUNDERT" #1

Online-edition "HUNDERT" #2

Online-edition "HUNDERT" #3

Online-edition "HUNDERT" #4

NIG 6.0. Ein Magazin aus gegebenem Anlass

This magazine was published in 2014 to accompany the conference “Crossing Borders – The Future of Access” and to commemorate the birthday of Director General Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann. The special publication addresses the expansion of European cultural heritage in the internet and the necessary cross-border solutions – at political, legal and technical levels.
You can read the publication online (58 pages, with illustrations, partly in German, partly in English) or order the paperback version from us free of charge

Online-edition "NIG 6.0"

Umschlag. Hülle. Inhalt

The book “Umschlag. Hülle. Inhalt” (“Cover. Shell. Content”) was published by Hatje Cantz Verlag in 2011 to commemorate the opening of the fourth wing of the library building in Leipzig. The building is described in detail in essays by authors including Dieter Bartetzko and in photos by the Leipzig-based artist Maix Mayer. Plans and sketches by the architect Gabriele Glöckler give insights into this striking extension.
You can buy this publication (112 pages, 162 illustrations) at the library or order it from us (10.00 Euro plus shipping costs).

Order by publikationen@dnb.de

Zugabe. Kunst in der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Frankfurt am Main

This richly illustrated art guide was published in 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the library building in Frankfurt. Author Ruth Langen-Wettengl provides information on the origins, background and interpretation of works by Georg Baselitz, Jochen Gerz, Candida Höfer, Ilya Kabakov, Per Kirkeby and Tobias Rehberger. The artworks are portrayed in photos by Stephan Jockel; most of them can be found in the public area of the library, but some of them are located in the area out of bounds to the public.
You can purchase the art guide (100 pages, 41 illustrations, with brief texts in English) in the library or order it from us (10.00 Euro plus shipping costs).

Order by publikationen@dnb.de

Publications by the German Museum of Books and Writing

The German Museum of Books and Writing regularly issues publications to draw attention to its holdings and current topics in media history.
Publications on its temporary exhibitions are issued in cooperation with publishing companies, universities and research institutions.

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Publications by the German Exile Archive

The publications of the German Exile Archive 1933–1945 draw attention to various aspects of exile and to its own holdings. These publications, which include numerous exhibition catalogues, are directed beyond academic circles to a wider public.

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Last changes: 15.11.2023
Short-URL: https://www.dnb.de/publications
Contact: publikationen@dnb.de

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