Preserving Cultural Heritage, Shaping the Future

The German National Library fulfils its tasks on the basis of the Law regarding the German National Library (DNBG). Since its foundation in 1912, it has continuously adapted its workflows and methods to new requirements. With a clear goal: to always be up to date and to react flexibly to new media, publication channels and technologies.

Today, we are experiencing rapid technological change that is profoundly transforming society and culture. The German National Library, too, is facing major challenges. In a world that is changing faster and faster, it needs a reliable compass to chart a safe course for the future.

Strategic Compass

Under the motto "Preserving Cultural Heritage, Shaping the Future", the German National Library presents its Strategic Compass 2035 - a forward-looking document that defines the main guidelines for the coming years. Following the first Strategic Compass in 2016, the DNB once again sets out its vision for the future.

Unlike its predecessor, Strategic Compass 2035 does not describe specific measures or individual steps. Instead, it sets out the broad strategic lines that will guide all decisions in our day-to-day work.

This guiding document contains the vision, mission, values and guidelines of the German National Library. It provides the framework for our work up to 2035 and gives all employees of the German National Library guidance on how to preserve Germany's cultural heritage while meeting the challenges of the digital future.

In this way, the German National Library is not only shaping its own future, but also making a significant contribution to preserving cultural memory in a rapidly changing world.

The strategic compass defines four guiding principles:

1. Users at the centre
2. Automation and digitalisation as the driving forces
3. Strong external networking
4. Meaningful work inside

Strategic Compass 2035

Specific objectives for the coming years: Strategic Priorities 2025-2027

The Strategic Compass 2035 is complemented by the Strategic Priorities, which have a shorter time horizon. They give a clear direction to the work of the German National Library in the coming years and help to set the right priorities and pursue concrete goals.

The strategic priorities build on previous work: Objectives from the previous strategy cycle are continued, provided they are still relevant. One example of this is the consistent view of all processes and procedures through ‘digital glasses’. Although this is now taken for granted and is not explicitly mentioned, the digital transformation remains a central guiding principle.

The German National Library has defined 13 strategic priorities for the next three years. They will ensure that the German National Library can react flexibly, future-orientated and sustainably to the requirements of a changing society.

Strategic priorities 2025-2027

Policy statements and concepts