Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (DNB) – German National Library
The German National Library (German: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek or DNB) is the central archival library and national bibliographic centre. Its task is to collect, permanently archive, comprehensively document and record bibliographically all German and German-language publications since 1913, foreign publications about Germany, translations of German works, and the works of German-speaking emigrants published abroad between 1933 and 1945, and to make them available to the public. The German National Library maintains co-operative external relations on a national and international level. For example, it is the leading partner in developing and maintaining bibliographic rules and standards in Germany and plays a significant role in the development of international library standards. The cooperation with publishers is regulated by law since 1935 for the Deutsche Bücherei Leipzig and since 1969 for the Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurt.
Duties are shared between the facilities in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main, with each center focusing its work in specific specialty areas. A former third facility, the Deutsches Musikarchiv in Berlin (founded 1970), deals with all music-related archiving (both printed and recorded materials). Today it is part of the Leipzig German National Library.
The main building of the German National Library in Leipzig was built 1914-1916 after plans of the architect Oskar Pusch. The impressive facade is 160 m long and faces the “Deutscher Platz” (German Plaza). The building was opened on October 19, 1916, one day after the Monument to the Battle of the Nations. The site of the library had been donated by the city of Leipzig, while Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony provided the funds for the building. On the facade, the portraits of Otto von Bismarck, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johannes Gutenberg are displayed. Statues represent Technology, Justice, Philosophy, Medicine etc. The central reading room contains a picture by Ludwig von Hofmann, depicting Arcadia in Art Nouveau-style. The staircase displays a mural showing the founders of the German library. The Library also contains a museum for books and letters. An extension was completed in 2010.
