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DNB NEWS

The digital annual report 2024 is here!

published 18.06.2025

Digital annual report 2024

In 2024, the German National Library tried out exciting new event formats, continued to grow and became more modern in many ways. The Strategic Compass sets the course for the next ten years. Take a look for yourself!

New Director

published 11.06.2025

Portrait Kathrin Brannemann Photo: Stephan Jockel

Kathrin Brannemann has been appointed Director of the German National Library in Frankfurt. The Administrative Council of the German National Library appointed Ms Brannemann based on the selection committee’s recommendation. The decision was preceded by a comprehensive selection process.
Ms Brannemann is currently the Library Director of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen). In February 2026, she will succeed Ute Schwens who will retire after more than 25 successful years in this position.

25 years of the Office for Library Standards (AfS)

published 04.06.2025

The history of AfS in a timeline. Credit: AfS, CC By SA

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Office for Library Standards (AfS) at the DNB. The core task of the AfS was and is standardisation work. Other tasks are the further development of the Integrated Authority File (GND) and the documentation platform of the Committee for Library Standards.

VW-LIS will start again on 1 July

published 27.05.2025

Detail of a status display

Access to the German National Library's licensing service for out-of-commerce works (VW-LiS) will be restored on 1 July 2025. Tailored to the requirements associated with the (mass) digitisation of written cultural heritage, the licensing of out-of-commerce works facilitates the provision of legally watertight access to copyright-protected 20th century sources. From 1 July 2025, cultural heritage institutions will be able to register for a VW-LiS account at the German National Library and file applications for out-of-commerce books with VG WORT.

Frank Scholze is board member of the DDB

published 15.05.2025

Portrait Frank Scholze Photo: Alexander Paul Englert

On 13 May 2025, Frank Scholze, Director General of the German National Library, was elected a board member of the German Digital Library (DDB). Ute Schwens, Director at the Frankfurt am Main location, becomes a deputy board member. The DDB connects German cultural and scientific institutions and makes Germany's cultural heritage accessible digitally, free of charge and at any time on a shared platform. A competence network of 18 cultural and knowledge institutions throughout Germany, including the DNB, is responsible for the development of the German Digital Library. Its content is incorporated into Europeana, the cultural memory of Europe.

Lounge area in Frankfurt

published 28.05.2025

Two women sit on the sofas in the Frankfurt service area. Phot: DNB, Hussein Gaafar

In our Frankfurt service area, two sofas are now available - inviting you to read and relax. If you plan to work in this newly created space next to the new media boxes, there are also plenty of power and USB ports for charging your own electrical devices. Side tables provide enough space to put down the work utensils you have brought with you. The terrace accessible from corner, can be used for short breaks in the fresh air and with a view of the garden. There are also flexible seats there that can be set up individually as required.

HERMES research study programme

published 08.05.2025

HERMES Logo

As part of the HERMES research study programme, the German National Library funds up to four studies of its collections a year in order to strengthen data competence in the humanities and cultural sciences and better understand the demands made by researchers on its data holdings. Selected collections are made available for the studies. Two reports from the HERMES research study programme were recently published as part of our open access series “Reports from the German National Library’s DH research study programme”.

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