German National Library

Germany’s central archival library collects, records, and preserves publications issued in German and works about Germany or the German language. Its collections document the country’s publishing output and cultural record.

Legal deposit: A law requiring publishers to provide copies of their publications to designated libraries or archives. German publishers must submit copies so the library can preserve the nation’s published output.
German Library of Leipzig: The Leipzig institution founded in 1912 to collect German-language publications. It was the German National Library’s predecessor in Leipzig and established the national collecting mission.
German Exile Archive 1933–1945: A German National Library archive documenting German-speaking exile from 1933 to 1945. It preserves publications and personal records related to a major period of forced displacement.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions: An international organization that develops cooperation and professional standards for libraries. Its standards and networks connect national libraries, including Germany’s, across borders.
Deutsche Nationalbibliografie: The German National Library’s bibliography of publications collected under its national remit. It records and describes the publications entering the library’s collection.
German Library of Frankfurt: The Frankfurt institution established after the Second World War as West Germany’s national library. It maintained national bibliographic work while Leipzig belonged to East Germany.
German Music Archive: The German National Library collection responsible for printed and recorded music. It extends national preservation beyond books to musical scores and sound recordings.
Europeana: A European digital platform providing access to cultural heritage collections from institutions across Europe. The German National Library contributes records and resources to wider European discovery.
Integrated Authority File: A German-language authority file that standardizes names, places, and subjects for library catalogues. Its standardized records help the library connect works to consistent names and subjects.
German reunification: The 1990 political process that ended the division of Germany into two states. Reunification brought the Leipzig and Frankfurt national library institutions together.

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Berlin State LibraryCompared with: Unlike this national deposit library, the Berlin State Library serves broad research needs through historic collections.