Berlin State Library

Berlin State Library

The Berlin State Library, officially known as the "German National Library of Prussian Cultural Heritage in Berlin," is a library under the German Foundation for Prussian Cultural Heritage. Located in the capital city of Berlin in accordance with federal state law, it is Germany’s largest comprehensive library.

In 1659, the predecessor of the German National Library, the Royal Library of Prussia, was officially established in Berlin. After World War I, the library came under the administration of the then Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. Starting in 1954, East Germany designated this library as the national library of East Germany. It wasn’t until January 1, 1992, after German reunification, that the national libraries of both East and West Germany were officially merged to form the current German National Library.

The Berlin State Library has several key responsibilities. First, as the national library, it not only collects all publications issued within Germany but also houses many publications from other German-speaking countries. Second, it manages the German printing collection from 1871 to 1912. Third, the International ISBN Agency is located at the German National Library, which is responsible for the issuance and management of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) worldwide. Lastly, the library also hosts a special collections area featuring rare editions including those on Southeast Asia, Slovenia, law, and politics.

Today, the Berlin State Library consists of two parts: Building 1 on Unter den Linden, which mainly houses historical books published up to 1955, and Building 2 on Potsdamer Straße, completed in 1978, which primarily serves lending services and functions as a major information library.

Berlin State Library

Must-visit reason: Germany’s largest comprehensive library

Continent: Europe

Country/Region: Germany

Province/State: Berlin

City: Berlin