Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin

As the largest scientific universal library in Germany, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin State Library – Prussian Cultural Heritage) is a central supplier of national and international literature.

More than 11 million volumes of printed material alone have accumulated since the library was founded in 1661. The collection comprises over 2.2 million additional printed works and other, often unique, materials in the special collections – these include western and oriental manuscripts, music autographs, estates and deposits, personal collections, maps, and historic newspapers. The library’s collection also contains more than 10 million microforms and, in the picture library, over 12 million motifs. Furthermore, a constantly increasing number of databases and other electronic resources complement the collection. The quality of its collections and its diverse services characterise the special prestige of the library worldwide.

The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (SBB-PK) is part of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK) (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation), which is funded by all the Länder (Federal States) and the Federal Government. The library’s historic collections are closely related to the collections of other SPK institutions; they cover all specialist areas and are continually being expanded. For the modern collections, with emphasis on humanities and social sciences, scientifically relevant literature of various depths of content is acquired. The library continuously acquires and preserves literature from all periods, all countries, in all languages, as well as in every form. Moreover, the central task of the library is to index this literature and make it available.

The operation, maintenance, continued expansion and modernisation of the buildings and locations, along with their stacks, reading rooms and offices facilitate the fulfilment of the library’s national and international tasks. The wide range of the library staff’s qualifications further assists in successfully carrying out these tasks.

The library’s services are designed to assist users with their research in the holdings of the Staatsbibliothek, in databases, and in worldwide accessible information resources and to make them beneficial for their scientific research purposes.

The Staatsbibliothek keeps the largest part of its collection in closed stacks; therefore it is of great importance that the collection, which is unique in its composition, is comprehensively searchable and made readily available. Precise indexing of the holdings, their electronic catalogue records and efficient user services guarantee that this is possible.

As an archive library with the mission to collect and preserve national and world cultural heritage, the Staatsbibliothek and its funding bodies attach great importance to the protection and preservation of the library’s holdings. Selected items are kept under the best conservational conditions by means of modern vault and corresponding security technology. In technically well-equipped workshops, experts for book conservation and restoration ensure the preservation of cultural heritage.