Frankfurt am Main branch
The German National Library in Frankfurt am Main offers you a total of four reading rooms, each with a different atmosphere and dedicated to a very wide range of different subjects. The German Exile Archive also awaits you here. Everything you need to know about using them during your visit can be found on this page.
General information about registration, fees, user services and the ordering and accessing of media can be found here.
Are you looking for a specific title or edition? Then you can search directly in our catalogue:
Catalogue of the German National Library
Welcome to the German National Library!
If you would like to spend your time in the Frankfurt am Main area studying, working, reading or listening to recordings at the library, you will find the following information useful.We will gladly issue you a library card. This will not cost you anything. You can renew the library card if necessary. In order to register, you will need to show us a valid passport and written confirmation of where you are staying. Registration is open to users aged 16 and over. If you are a minor, you will need a completed declaration of consent (only available in German) and the personal ID of a parent or guardian, either the original or a copy (front and back).
- The German National Library mainly collects and preserves literature in the German language. For the most part, the only works available in other languages are translations from German or works that deal with Germany or prominent figures from the German-speaking countries.
- The German National Library is an archival library. You can only use the media in the library's reading rooms. They cannot be taken out of the library.
- We will gladly issue you a library card. This will not cost you anything. You can renew the library card if necessary. In order to register, you will need to show us a valid passport and written confirmation of where you are staying
- Media have to be ordered through our catalogue.
The media you order will be available the next working day. They will be kept for you for 14 days and can be used in the reading rooms for up to six weeks. - Wi-fi is available everywhere in the building. You can use the internet in the reading rooms.
Opening hours
Please note our changed hours of service from 1 November 2024.
Reading rooms
Monday to Friday 9:00–22:00
Saturday 10:00–18:00
Registration, media issue
Monday to Friday 9:00–20:00
Saturday 10:00–18:00
Reading room of the German Exile Archive 1933–1945
Monday to Friday 10:00–18:00
Closing times in Frankfurt am Main
The German National Library in Frankfurt am Main is closed on the following days: Sundays, statutory national holidays, the Saturday before Easter, Corpus Christi and from 24 December to 1 January.
Exhibitions in the German Exile Archive 1933–1945
Monday to Friday 9:00–21:30
Saturday 10:00–17:30
The opening hours of temporary exhibitions may vary.
Contact
How to find us
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station (underground level), take the U5 in the direction of Preungesheim and get off at the stop “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 10 minutes.
By plane
From the airport (regional station), take S-Bahn S8 in the direction of Hanau or the S9 in the direction of Offenbach and get off at “Konstablerwache”. Change to the U5 in the direction of Preungesheim and get off at the stop “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 30 minutes.
By bus
The “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek” bus stop is served by the number M32 bus.
2 / By car
The address for navigation devices is Eckenheimer Landstraße 165. The building is accessed from the underground car park. The maximum entrance height is 2.0 m.
Approaching from the west
Take the A66 to the end of the autobahn in Miquelallee and follow the signs for Fulda/Hanau; at the third intersection, turn right into Eckenheimer Landstraße in the direction of the city centre; follow the signs and turn right into the underground car park.
Approaching from the north
Take the A661 to the Eckenheim exit, get into the lane for the city centre/Eckenheim, continue straight on to the third major set of traffic lights and cross these. The entrance to the underground car park is located at the German National Library building around 100 metres further on the right.
Parking
Our car park has 100 parking spaces for visitors on the first basement floor.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00, Saturday 8:00 to 18:00.
Fees: 2.00 Euro/hour, cash or card payment.
The permanent rental of parking spaces is not possible.
For on-street parking spaces in the Holzhausenviertel district, the City of Frankfurt of Main charges 50 cents per quarter hour or part thereof from Monday to Friday between 7:00 and 19:00.
Construction work
The media issues area in the Frankfurt reading room will be renovated and updated starting from 18 October 2024, with the work set to continue until the end of March 2025.
Find out more about the latest developments
Access for persons with disabilities
The German National Library in Frankfurt am Main has designated disabled parking spaces in its car park and next to the building in Schlosserstraße.
Disabled users whose disability ID cards contain the codes “AG” or “BI” are exempt from parking fees. To make use of this service, please show your disability ID and library card at reception. You will then receive a free exit ticket for the underground car park.
The Library's public rooms can be accessed by elevator from the underground car park. Barrier-free access to the main entrance is also available from Schlosserstraße.
Access to the reading room is level. The various floors of the reading rooms and the public area including the restaurant and cafeteria are all accessible by ramp or elevator. WCs for the disabled are located in the main reading room, the periodical reading room and the rotunda near the cafeteria.
If you are dependent on assistance, a free library card will be issued for your companion at the registration desk. Guide dogs are permitted.
Workstations for persons with disabilities
The main reading room has two freely accessible workstations with height-adjustable tables for disabled users. If you require assistance, please ask staff at the information desk.
Workstations for the blind and partially sighted
The multimedia reading room has one workstation specially designed for blind people and another for the partially sighted. Here you can search the catalogue and make use of the collections and internet. These PC workstations are equipped with the following:
- DIN A3 scanner with OCR software
- Braille keyboard
- Jaws for Windows with text-to-speech output
- ZoomText magnifying software
- “VIG Keys” high-visibility keyboard
- Optelec ClearView magnifier
Please make an appointment for an introductory session.
blindenarbeitsplaetze-f@dnb.de
Phone +49 69 1525-2500
You should start working at these workstations during the information desk’s hours of service.
Reading rooms and their collections
Layout of reading rooms in Frankfurt am Main
Copying and photography
In the user areas, you can make paper copies at various machines against payment of a fee or store scans of printed media on USB sticks. Microfiches can be re-enlarged at the reader scanners.
- The following fees are charged per page:
- DIN A4 black/white 0.10 Euro
- DIN A3 black/white 0.20 Euro
- DIN A4 colour 0.50 Euro
- DIN A3 colour 1.00 Euro
- Digital copy 0.05 Euro
Please refer to our fee schedule for other fees.
For all fees incurrend, please top up your user card at the pay station.
You are permitted to take photographs of media works (except sheet music). Please handle media with care. When taking photographs in the reading room, please refrain from using flash or tripods and avoid disturbing others.
You as the user are responsible for observing and complying with copyright regulations.
The storage of excerpts from electronic publications is not permitted.
We prepare digital or paper copies of works in accordance with the applicable copyright regulations (§ 53 und § 60e) and in line with our collection preservation guidelines. Please send us your reproduction request via the order form.
You will find further information at the help page.
Refreshments
“Rob’s Kulinarium” in the German National Library offers a varied selection of drinks and meals including vegetarian and vegan dishes.
In order to protect our collections, you are only permitted to eat and drink in the food area.
The library restaurant in Frankfurt am Main is open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00. The cafeteria will remain closed.
Opening hours
Public restaurant
Monday to Friday: 08:00–16:00
The cafeteria is closed.
Contact
Phone +49 69 977 655 17
Wöchentlicher Speiseplan (only available in german)
Further information
Last changes:
05.11.2024
Contact:
info-f@dnb.de