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.

Contact

How to find us

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main

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 424kB, PDF - Not barrier-free file.

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.

Wöchentlicher Speiseplan (only available in german)

Further information