Libraries : Germany

Unlike other countries, Germany has no large national library that has existed for centuries. It was not until 1913 that the newly founded Deutsche Bucherei (German Library) in Leipzig brought together all German-language literature under one roof. The division of Germany after World War II led to the foundation of the Deutsche Bibliothek (German Library) in Frankfurt am Main in 1947. It had the same function in the west as the Leipzig library in the east. Like the Leipzig library, it was founded by the book trade; since 1969 it has been a federal institution. Under the Unification Treaty of August 1990, the two libraries were merged under the name “Die Deutsche Bibliothek”.

Die Deutsche Bibliothek is the central archive of all German-language writings and the national bibliographical information center of the Federal Republic. Its stocks currently total approximately 14 million volumes. In 1970 the German Music Archive was founded in Berlin as a special section of the Frankfurt Deutsche Bibliothek. Frankfurt is also the home of the German Exile Archive 1933-1945. Special sections in Leipzig include the Center for Book Preservation and the German Museum of Books and Writings.

Two of the country’s main academic libraries are the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) in Munich (more than six million books) and the “Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz” in Berlin (about four million). The state and university libraries likewise have large stocks. In addition to these general libraries, there are specialized libraries such as the Central Medical Library in Cologne. One library with an outstanding reputation is the well-preserved Herzog-August-Bibliothek in Wolfenbuttel, which has over 660,000 volumes, including 12,000 priceless medieval manuscripts.

In the Federal Republic of Germany there are approximately 13,500 public libraries with more than 129 million volumes. Most of these libraries are maintained by local authorities and churches. Many feature public readings by authors, special events and exhibitions and have thus become centers of cultural activity - in many smaller communities the only such center. They also cater to the special interests of users by offering special sections for children and young people as well as music and art libraries. Many cities and communities operate bookmobiles serving suburban areas and villages.