Outlook - Extension of the German National Library in Leipzig

For my last entry about the “German National Library” I have decided to focus on the future of this institution. As the capacity of the Leipzig location is fully exhausted, the German Government decided in 2007 to extend the building for the fourth time. I found a lot of material, including facts and figures, the construction history, images, etc. on the website of the German National Library. The building process can also be followed via web cams.

I came across a press release of the German State Minister of Culture from 2007 on the German ‘Google’ site that I had translated into English.

Press release from the State Minister of Culture

Here are my findings:

The “German National Library” held a total of around 24.7 million media units at the end of 2008, growing by a further 1300 units every day at its Leipzig and Frankfurt locations. This represents a daily space requirement of roughly 24 metres of shelf space. In Leipzig alone roughly 14.5 million media units are stored. The magazines in the library building and in the "book tower" are fully utilized and alternative magazines have had to be rented.

The task of planning the fourth extension of the “German National Library” was set in a Europe-wide architecture competition; the first prize went to the design of a Stuttgart architect. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media made 50 million euros available for the extension.

Through the new building about 14 000 square meters of space will be available, most of which the magazines claim. There are also plans for the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions of the „German Book and Writing Museum“. The extension will also allow the relocation of the „German Music Archive“ from Berlin to Leipzig where new function and reading rooms will be part of the rebuilding. A recording studio and listening booths will also be set up. Thus the musical culture in Leipzig will receive a major boost.

Work on the extension started in late summer 2007 and is scheduled for completion and start of operation by the end of 2010.

The photo below shows the completion of the outside finish of the “German National Library” in Leipzig that was celebrated in March 2009.

Richtkrone / Photo: Norbert Bensch, Stephan Jockel
(Courtesy of German National Library)