Using the German National Library
The German National Library is a public-accessible library offering a wide range of services at its three locations in Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main and Berlin.
Visitors to the German National Library in Leipzig will find works published in Germany since 1913 as well as German-language publications issued abroad. The collections of the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main comprise works of both categories published since 1945. The Deutsches Musikarchiv collects printed music and sound recordings subject to legal deposit.
The German National Library is a reference library, meaning that publications are available for use in the reading rooms only. This ensures a good availability of publications while protecting the collections at the same time, allowing the German National Library to fulfil its preservation obligation as national archival library.
Users must be at least 18 years old and present a valid
passport or ID card. You can set up a provisional user account
in advance via
online
registration; you will receive a user number for ordering
items.
Library use is subject to a charge (annual pass: 38 EUR,
monthly pass: 15 EUR, day-pass valid until closing time the
following day: 5 EUR).
As the collections are held in storage areas not accessible to
the public, users must first consult the catalogue on site
or on the Internet and find the entry of the desired
publication, enter personal data and activate the order button.
The desired publication is available from the delivery counter
for consultation in one of the reading rooms.
Extensive reference collections located in the reading rooms are openly accessible and can be used without a previous order.
Regulations for users (available only in German)
Charges and fees (available only in German)
Guide to Frankfurt's Libraries (available only in
German)
Libraries in Leipzig (available only in German)
User service in Leipzig
User service in Frankfurt am Main
User service in Berlin
Jutta Schmid
