State Library of Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage

Berlin's library landscape was also a separation victim after the 2nd World War. The collections of the former Prussian State Library Unter den Linden were torn apart during the war and could not be brought together after the end of the war. At the old building in the GDR the 'German State Library' was opened, while in West-Berlin the 'Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation' was founded. At the end of the 1970ties, it moved to a new building at the Kulturforum. After the fall of the Berlin wall both libraries are now united again as "State Library of Berlin-Prussian Cultural Heritage but the physical separation continues.

image author: Gisela Pape

Former State Library
The first "Kurfürstliche Bibliothek zu Cölln an der Spree" was housed from 1661 onwards at the so-called pharmacy wing of the Berlin Palace. In 1780, its task was then taken over by the Alte Bibliothek, in the vernacular called 'Kommode' (chest of drawers). In the place of today's library were the old royal stables, until 1902 located, where the Academy of Science and Art was housed. These were built 1687-1700 by J.A.Nering and M.Grünberg.
At the house's Red Hall, J.G.Fichte delivered in the years 1807-1808, his famous 'Speeches to the German Nation'. The house, constructed between 1903 and 1914 after plans by Ernst von Ihnens in neo-baroque style, was opened as "Royal Library" and was named 'Prussian State Library', after the 1st World War, which it carried until 1945. The GDR-government baptised the library finally 'German State Library'. In the year 1939 the library owned around 3,82 mil volumes. During the 2nd World War, the collections were stored in more than 30 places in Germany. Today there are again over six million books and 600.000 scripts, maps and incunabula. For the usage there a are reading rooms, 430 work stations and around 130.000 volumes of a reference library available.

image author: Gisela Pape

Former State Library Prussian Cultural Heritage
The basis of this library was the in the 2nd World War, in West-Germany stored collections of the Prussian State Library, of which roughly 1,7 mil volumes could be reunited in Marburg. Parts of the scripts and prints were stored at the university library of Tübingen but were given back to Berlin.

image author: Gisela Pape

The library's new building was constructed in the years 1967-1978 after plans by Hans Scharoun. It is considered as one of Europe's largest and most ambitious new library buildings after the 2nd World War. The library can hold up to 8 mil volumes. Right now there are roughly 4 mil books and prints of all subject areas and countries. 220.000 micro films and microfiches can be accessed. Available further are collections of the special departments. Script department, music department, a special collection about the family Mendelssohn, a map department, the East-Europe department as well as an East Asia department can be found. The photo archive holds around 5 mil photos of graphics, copper engravings, wood carvings, lithographs and other sculptures. The complex, located southwest, serves as a lecture hall with around 500 seats and a smaller hall with 100 seats.

Transport Links

Location: Unter den Linden
S-Bahn: S1, S2, S25 (station Unter den Linden)
Bus: 100 (from station Alexanderplatz)
Standort: Potsdamer Straße
S-Bahn: S1, S2, S25 (station Potsdamer Platz)
U-Bahn: U2 (station Potsdamer Platz)