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We are building for posterity

The German National Library has been collecting all text, image and sound media published in Germany, about Germany or in the German language since 1913. Every year, the number of physical media works added to the collection covers about 3.3 kilometres of shelving at each of the locations in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main. The German National Library's unique mandate is to catalogue this ever-growing repository of knowledge and preserve it for posterity.
The building in Leipzig has already had four extensions built onto it to meet the need for more space.

More about the building history

Once again, all the stacks at the Leipzig location will soon be full to capacity. For this reason, the south-east side of the original building on Deutscher Platz will soon become home to an extension building – the fifth in the Leipzig location's history.

This new repository building will offer sufficient space to archive all the works added to the library over the next thirty years.

Milestones

As yet, all is quiet on the construction site earmarked for the future fifth extension building in Leipzig. However, plans are already being assiduously made on paper.


Part of an architectural model with buildings and trees designed for the German National Library's fourth extension

On 9 April 2024, a competition to design an extension to the German National Library's building in Leipzig – the fifth in its history – was announced in the Official Journal of the European Union.


Bird's-eye view of 3 people sitting at a table and bending over construction plans Photo: pixabay

The competition entrants received the tender documents on 3 June 2024.


Text saying "Fifth Extension" on top of a picture of typical stacks

The jury meets on 10 September 2024 to assess the competition entries submitted for the fifth extension building.


The construction work is expected to start at the end of 2026. The new building is scheduled to open in 2030.


Exhibition of work submitted for the competition

The prizewinning works will be exhibited to the public at the German National Library from 18 September to 1 October 2024 along with all the other entries submitted.

Opening hours: Mo-Sa, 10:00-18:00, Admission free and registration is not required

Contact person

Johannes Neuer, Director of the German National Library in Leipzig
bau-l@dnb.de

Last changes: 31.05.2024
Contact: bau-l@dnb.de

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