Press release: 1.9.2016

The German National Library has set out its guidelines for the next ten years in its “German National Library 2025: Strategic Compass” publication. Since being founded in 1912 the German National Library has repeatedly had to adapt both to the needs of new media and forms of publication as well as to the rapid progress in the field of information technology and the resulting expectations of its users. Ten years ago, for example, the government extended the mandate of the German National Library to include online publications, of which the library now holds more than two million.

Today, automated processes are already allowing the library to cope with the growing numbers of new acquisitions. In the future, however, further efforts will be needed in order to meet the goal of maintaining a neutral and complete collection, and to establish a framework for long-term preservation.

In a world where new trends can change society fundamentally within a few years, medium-term goals provide orientation and aid navigation. Considering such future challenges in advance helps development steps to be planned and implemented at an early stage. The result is not a rigid set of rules, but the interim results of an ongoing dialogue. The library regularly reviews its goals and priorities to ensure that it is responding appropriately. For the first time, the German National Library has now formulated and published its medium-term strategic goals.

“German National Library 2025” points out the direction - like a compass - for the next ten years. The detailed planning of the route with its individual stages and topic areas is then based on this. Concepts are developed and goals set for individual products and processes and for personnel development which can then be used to derive the strategic priorities for 2017 to 2020 and 2021 to 2024. All experience gained during the implementation will be used in turn to hone and, where necessary, amend the long-term objectives.

Background

For over a century now the German National Library has been collecting, documenting, archiving and making publicly available all written publications and sound recordings issued in Germany, or in German, since 1913. It provides its comprehensive range of services at its twin sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main, but also in digital form to a global circle of users. In addition the German National Library also houses valuable and extensive special collections in the German Exile Archive 1933-1945 and the German Museum of Books and Writing. It showcases its valuable collections and promotes the culture of books, reading and music by regularly staging readings, exhibitions, lectures and concerts. It houses over 30 million media units and attracts roughly 220,000 visitors to its two sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main with its collections and rich and varied programme of events.

Contact

Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann