Berlin State Library - Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. State library in Berlin

The development of the library was interrupted during the Second World War. Currently, the library funds (then about three million volumes of books and other materials) were taken out to safe places and hidden in 30 monasteries, castles and salt mines of Hesse and Silesia. After the end of the war and the partition of Germany in a year, only a small part of the library stock was returned to the library premises on under den Linden (now Building 1). The main materials were transported to the western occupation zone in Marburg and returned to Berlin (to the premises on Potsdamer Street, now Building 2) only in the late 1970s. Other parts of the fund were taken to the libraries of Poland and the USSR, where they are kept to this day. The most significant among these collections is Berlinka (about 300 thousand storage units), which was declared part of the reparations by Germany in favor of Poland. Intergovernmental discussions are currently underway on the return of these values ​​to Germany.

Thus, after the Second World War, on the basis of Prussian State Library two institutions were formed: German State Library(it. Deutsche Staatsbibliothek ) In East Berlin and State Prussian Library cultural heritage (it. Staatsbibliothek Preuischer Kulturbesitz ) In West Berlin. In the 1980s, consultations began in these libraries on reunification possibilities. After the unification of Germany, these processes intensified. So, on May 1, the libraries published a joint memorandum "The German State Library and the State Library of Prussian Cultural Heritage and Their Joint Future as a Single State Library of Berlin" (German. Die Deutsche Staatsbibliothek und die Staatsbibliothek Preuischer Kulturbesitz und ihre gemeinsame Zukunft als "Vereinigte Staatsbibliotheken zu Berlin" ). On January 1, the two institutions were transferred to the management of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and merged under modern name "State Library Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage" .

2. Library buildings

Former building Old library on Bebelplatz (nicknamed chest of drawers)

2.3. Building on Potsdamer Street (since 1978)

Building of the State Library on Potsdamer Street in the Kulturforum

Library on Potsdamer Street was created as a "library of modernity". A huge "book ship" was built on the territory of the Berlin Kulturforum according to the project of the architect Hans Scharun in the years. After the death of Sharun in the year, the construction of the library was completed by his student Edgar Visnievski.

This building is known to the general public thanks to Wim Wenders' film "Sky over Berlin". Angels - the main characters of the film - listen to the opinions of readers in the reading rooms of the library on Potsdamer Street.

Building 2 has been in operation for thirty years, which necessitated its partial restoration. Among the main tasks of the restoration work is the replacement of the asbestos building blocks of the structure. In the 1960s and 1970s, asbestos materials were often used in construction. Among other things, they were used in the construction of the "book ship" for the Kulturforum. Modern measurements have shown the dangers of air contaminated with asbestos dust for library readers and staff. Renovation work began in 2006. To avoid the closure of large areas of the premises for visitors, a renovation plan was developed for 8-9 years.

3. Library funds

3.1. Composition of funds

By their species and thematic composition, the funds are versatile. The library has documents in various media in all scientific disciplines, however, there is some specialization in psychology, humanities and social sciences. The library fund is also universal in terms of linguistic and territorial characteristics. This is especially important in the context of the fact that the National Library of Germany (unlike other national libraries) focuses exclusively on German-language literature. Thus, the processing of a large part of the German exterior (namely, documents relating to Germany, but issued in other languages) is an important task. State Library in Berlin as the most universal library in the state.

The fund is chronologically universal. Only half of the documents in the library collection belong to the so-called "modern collections". This is about 7,000,000 books and magazines published in all languages ​​of the world since 1945, official documents and other materials. The other half of the funds are so-called "special funds". This is about 3 million historical engravings, rare and especially valuable books, incunabula, autographs of great scientists and artists, historical manuscripts of Western and oriental traditions etc..

By species composition, the library funds include:

3.2. Library treasures

V Berlin State Library the unique values ​​of world culture are stored. Among them, tens of thousands of priceless autographs, 200 thousand rare prints, including the early Ming era, manuscripts from the Middle Ages and early modern times, a collection of German prints from 1871-1912, archives of prominent scientists and historical newspapers from around the world.

The library's most valuable treasures include the 9th-century Psalter of Louis the German and a lavishly decorated copy of the Gutenberg Bible. The oldest handwritten book in the library's fund is the Coptic code of the biblical Book of Proverbs of Solomon (III century), the oldest printed document of the fund is a Buddhist text "Hyakumantu Daran"(VIII century, Japan).

The collections of musical autographs of great composers are very rich. Thus, the library has a significant collection of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's manuscripts, including autographs of almost all of his operas. It also holds 80% of all autographs by Johann Sebastian Bach, including the sheet music autographs of such works as Laude Mass in B minor, St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion. Ludwig van Beethoven's invaluable collection of autographs; his 4th, 5th, 8th and 9. The autograph of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony of the Year was included in the international register "Memory of the World".

Postage Stamp GDR series Treasures of the GDR libraries

A significant proportion of especially valuable documents was lost by the library during the Second World War. Part of the funds evacuated from the bombing ended up in Poland after the end of the war. This part of the funds, known as "Berlinka", includes about 300 thousand volumes of medieval manuscripts, autographs (including those of Martin Luther, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, the brothers Grimm, etc.), most of the musical autographs of Mozart and Beethoven.

4. Service

For searching and ordering documents, the library offers its readers a system of electronic catalogs and card indexes. The library's rules of use allow access to the funds to anyone over 18 years of age.

Literature

• Peter Jrg Becker und Tilo Brandis: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preuischer Kulturbesitz, altdeutsche Handschriften. Kulturstiftung d. L. 1995
• Ralph Breslau: Verlagert, verschollen, vernichtet ... Das Schicksal der im Zweiten Weltkrieg ausgelagerten Bestnde der Preuischen Staatsbibliothek. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Berlin 1995

The library in Berlin has a long history of its development and, accordingly, many names, it was both the Imperial and the Prussian state, there were other names. Today the words "Prussian cultural heritage" are necessarily added to the official name of the Library.

Foundation of the library

In 1661, the Library Elector of Brandenburg Friedrich Wilhelm founded the first public library in Prussia. In 1701 the Library received the name of the Royal Library in Berlin, after the First World War the Library was renamed again. It is now the Prussian State Library.

Until 1780, the State Library occupied the building of an apothecary wing on the territory of the Berlin City Palace; only representatives of the imperial family and the highest nobility had access to folios and books. Then the library fund totaled about 150 thousand copies of books.

State Library during World War II and until 1991

For salvation national heritage, which already included more than three million copies and special funds, during the war the library funds were hidden in mines and monasteries. V post-war years, the division of the German lands took place, it also touched the Prussian State Library, from which two separate collections were formed, in East Berlin and in West Berlin. This division lasted until the beginning of January 1992, following the reunification of German lands, united and disunited library funds, which were transferred to the Department of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the united library included in the name, which is retained to this day the name of the Foundation.

New Library on Potsdamer Street (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin)

Historically, after the merger of two libraries from East and West Berlin into one, in the building on Unter den Linden there are mainly historical volumes, old copies, including the period before early XIX century, the premises on Potsdamer Street were given over to more modern scientific literature.
The new library is located in the building of the Kulturforum, which needs to be discussed separately.

Kulturforum

The modern complex of buildings Kulturforum united many cultural attractions of modern Berlin, including the Berlin Philharmonic, two museums - art and musical instruments, two art galleries, Chamber hall other. All these establishments, despite the fact that they are part of a common complex, are absolutely independent from each other.

The construction of the complex in West Berlin began in the late 50s near Berlin Wall, behind which, in East Berlin, there are many cultural property... The Kulturforum has become a cultural symbol of West Berlin. The art gallery became the last object in the complex, its construction was completed in 1998.
In 1967, the architect Hans Scharoun designs the building of the State Library in the form of a huge book ship, the construction of which was completed 11 years later, in 1978. This large-scale building is known to many for the film "Sky over Berlin" directed by Wim Wenders.

Today the library has a reading room for 910 seats, the book fund of the New Library is more than 5.4 million volumes. The library occupies 10 floors, two of them are underground.

Opening hours of the New Library Library

Monday - Friday 9:00 - 21:00
Saturday 9:00 - 19:00

How to get to Kulturforum:

Address: Potsdamer Straße 33, 10785 Berlin
Subway U2 (Potsdamer Platz)
S-bahn S1, S2, S25 (Potsdamer Platz)
bus M29 (Potsdamer Brücke); M41 (Potsdamer Platz Bhf / Voßstraße); M48, M85 (Kulturforum); 200 (Philharmonie)

Public transport ticket for all types of public transport (6.30 € - 6.80 €), valid for 24 hours.

The current capital of Germany has many reasons to be proud. It is on the territory of this city that a huge number of various museums, exhibitions, cathedrals and churches, as well as castles are located. Their visual appeal and rich story fascinate, impress, remember. Among the many attractions, one cannot fail to notice the Berlin State Library, the resources of which are very valuable for the country and the whole world.

At the very beginning of its history, this building served as the Prussian State Library. It is now part of the renowned Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The sheer scale and versatility of this library makes it popular throughout the German-speaking area. The scientific literature present in the resources of the institution covers absolutely all known historical eras, as well as languages ​​and countries of the world. Every reader of the Berlin State Library who turns up will find a suitable source for themselves on a topic of interest. It is also important to note that the variety of categories of available literature makes it possible to interest both an ordinary student, an experienced master, and a professor of a certain science.

This is due to the availability of books and manuscripts in a variety of specialties, for example, psychology, humanities, social studies. As for the territorial and linguistic parameters of the functioning of the institution, they are clearly limited to German-language literature and information concerning Germany itself. It is hard to imagine, but the general fund of the Berlin State Library numbers about ten million books, more than 100 thousand manuscripts, a great many sheet music autographs, including famous composers, almost one and a half thousand personal archives, more than 180 thousand archives of historical newspapers. And this is not a complete list of resources. It is rightfully considered one of the main assets of Germany. Among all the literary wealth is the Psalter of Louis the German (9th century), "The Book of Solomon's Parables" (3rd century) and the luxuriously designed Buddhist text "Hyakumantu Daran" (8th century, Japan).

Despite the fact that a significant part of the resources were lost during the Second World War, the Berlin State Library remains the most important property in Germany today.

In order not to waste valuable time looking for a suitable hotel or hotel, experienced travelers recommend taking care of this in advance. Traveling to the Berlin State Library will be a lot of fun if you choose the right destination, such as the Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin, Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof or Melia Berlin.

The library was founded in 1661 by Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg as the "Electoral Library of Cologne on the Spree". In 1701, in Prussia, it was renamed by Frederick I into the "Royal Library of Berlin". The fall of the monarchical regime in Germany after the end of the First World War was the reason new shift titles. So, since 1918 the library was called the "Prussian State Library".

During the Second World War, funds of about 3 million volumes and including important non-literary publications were almost completely transferred to the German Empire. They were distributed among 30 mining enterprises, monasteries and castles in the east and west. The library has lost 800,000 volumes. Much was captured by the Soviet or Polish army as trophies. "Moscow is the headquarters of Berlin's treasures in Russia."

After 1945, the division of Germany was announced, as well as the division of the library funds. In the eastern and western parts of Germany, two Institutes were founded belonging to the Prussian Library. In East Berlin - the German State Library, in West Berlin - the State Library of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. After the reunification of Germany on January 1, 1992, both organizations were merged under the name "State Library of Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation", turned into one library, occupying two buildings, and were included in this fund.
Building
Until 1780, the library was located in the former pharmacy wing of the Berlin City Castle.
"Chest of drawers" on the Opera Square (1780 - 1913)

Built in 1780, the building is located in the western part of Bebelplatz, the former Opera Square. It was intended for the Royal Library, which then had 150,000 volumes. Because of its large size, Berliners have fondly called the Old Library "Chest of Drawers" for almost two hundred years. The building, located on Unter den Linden, was built according to the plan of Georg Christian Unger. The basis of this plan was a project by the Austrian architect Josef Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, because Old library strongly resembles the Michaelhertrak building of the Vienna Hofburg palace complex (1889). Today the Komod is home to the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University of Berlin. Royal Library 1913-1914 moved to the opposite building at Unter den Linden 8, built specifically for the library and its holdings. Today it is one of two large buildings of the State Library of Berlin.
One library in two buildings (since 1914)

Since 1914: Unter den Linden Building. This place later developed into a historical research library. Largest building in the center of Berlin, 170 m long and 107 m wide, was built from 1903 to 1914. for the Royal Library, designed by the architect and palace builder Ernst von Inne. In 1944, due to hostilities, it lost its functional and architectural center Dome Hall

Since 2000, the building has been reconstructed and supplemented with new annexes: a central reading room, a free access book depository, a guarded book depository, a rare literature reading room and public areas. According to the plan of the organization Merz, which is carrying out the construction, it will continue until 2009. At the same time, a major reconstruction of the old building and the passage connecting the old and new buildings is being carried out. All works should be completed by 2012.

Building on Potsdamer Street (1978). This place later became the Library of Modernity. The powerful "book ship" is part of the cultural heritage of Berlin, it was erected in 1967-1968. designed by architect Hans Sharon. After his death in 1972, construction was completed by his student Edgar Wisniewski. The spatial composition of the building embodies openness and unity. The building of the State Library is also familiar to the general public from the award-winning film "The Sky Above Berlin" by Wim Wenders.

In 2010, another building in the Friedrichshagen district will be used as a book depository. It will become the central warehouse of the State Library.

The State Library of Berlin contains literature and documents representing all fields of science, languages, times and countries, with an emphasis on the humanitarian and social spheres. The State Library of Berlin has at its disposal the largest collection of periodical literature among all German libraries; in 1993 a specialized department of periodicals was opened.

Foundations for the most part stored in book depositories. To find and order the required book, you need to use the electronic catalog. Any citizen over 18 years of age can use the funds of the State Library absolutely free of charge.

The library holdings include, among other things, 320,000 original manuscripts of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Goethe and Kleist, 200,000 rare prints from the early Ming era and the world's oldest printed edition from Japan in 764 and 770, 41,600 Eastern and 18,000 Western European manuscripts, among them are medieval copies dating from the beginning of the modern era, 1400 archives of Herder, Eichendorv, Hauptmann, Bonhoeffer and Gründens; collections of German prints from 1871-1912, 66,000 musical recordings, 4,400 early printed books, a collection of bindings, the Mendelssohn archive and about a million maps and plans.

Here are hidden treasures of world culture and national cultural heritage, including the world's largest collection of works by Mozart, 80% of old manuscripts by Johann Sebastian Bach, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, "Decameron" by Boccaccio, the text of the German National Anthem, written by the hand of Hoffman von Fullerslebens , one of the rarest prints of Martin Luther's 95 Provisions, manuscripts of famous scholars and historical newspapers from around the world. Most of the funds transferred during the Second World War to the Grussau monastery in Schlesin were handed over to the Poles as trophies and have not been returned to this day. The collection, named Berlinka and housed in the Library of Krakow, contains about 300,000 volumes of valuable medieval manuscripts, including Martin Luther and Goethe, Schiller's doctrinal dissertation, and a one-of-a-kind musical collection of original scores by Beethoven and Mozart.
Specialized funds

Virtual specialized libraries: legal sciences, East and South Asia, Slavic studies and online history as a section of the Clio-online system.
Weak spots

All losses during the Second World War are still not fully recorded, so the phrase "possibly lost during the war" can often be found in catalogs. It so happens that the catalog does not even indicate the name of the work, but the number (name) of the shelf. This, of course, raises questions. In rare cases, in order to place an order for a book from the main fund, you need to fill in a special form manually. For orders from remote funds, the forms are filled in on a typewriter. The returned book cannot be ordered or reserved again within a week due to the fact that it takes a long time to send it back. Often, the system does not provide reliable information about the availability of literature, and instead of an ordered book, a handwritten note comes from the store. Orders cannot be made on weekends and holidays due to the large influx of visitors. No reminders are made before the order arrives. e-mail, but immediately after the expiration of the period for using the book, a notification is sent by mail about the need to pay a fine.

Reading rooms are not only overcrowded during peak hours; not all reading areas in both buildings are equipped with power outlets. The Internet and online databases can only be used on dedicated machines. No way to use wireless local area network and the copiers are very old. Digitization of data is possible only by prior order.

Berlin State Library(German Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, full name - Berlin State Library - Prussian Cultural Heritage(it. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz), previously Prussian State Library- it. Preußische Staatsbibliothek) - the largest scientific universal library on the territory of the spread of the German language, is one of the institutions of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The library collection contains scientific literature, covering all historical eras, all countries and all languages, designed to satisfy the most sophisticated requests of researchers.

Story

Now the "Chest" houses the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University. In -1914, the Royal Library moved to a new building at Unter den Linden 8, which is still one of the two main buildings of the Berlin State Library.

Library in two buildings (since 1914)

Building on Unter den Linden - from 1914

The library on Unter den Linden formed as a center historical research... The largest historical building in the Mitte district, 170 m long and 107 m wide, was erected in -1914 for the Royal Library by the architect and court architect Ernst von Ine. In 1944, the functional and architectural center of the building, the Dome Hall, was destroyed. Since 2000, the reconstruction of the building has been carried out with the simultaneous erection of new structures: the main reading room, open access book depository, safe book depositories, a reading room rare editions and public premises. Completion of work on the HG Merz project is scheduled for 2009. The simultaneous renovation work in the historical building and the unification of all the buildings into a single library complex in 2012 will create all the technical prerequisites for conducting librarianship at the most modern level.

Building on Potsdamer Street - since 1978

Library on Potsdamer Street(German: Potsdamer Straße) has become a library of modernity. The massive book ship on the territory of the Berlin Kulturforum was built by the architect Hans Scharun in -1978. After Sharun's death in 1972, the construction of the building was completed by his student Edgar Visnievski. This building of the State Library is known to the general public thanks to the film "Sky over Berlin" by Wim Wenders.

In 2010, an additional office building will be put into operation in the Friedrichshagen district of Berlin.

Foundations

The collections of the Berlin State Library contain documents in all scientific disciplines, at the most different languages related to different eras and countries with specializations in psychology and social sciences. Search and order are carried out according to the electronic catalog. Access to the funds is open to persons over 18 years of age.

The Berlin State Library contains the greatest values ​​of world culture: the largest collection of manuscripts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 80% of all autographs of Johann Sebastian Bach, 5th and 9th symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, "Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio, text of the national anthem in manuscript August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, one of the extremely rare editions of Martin Luther's 95 theses, autographs and manuscripts of famous scientists and historical newspapers from all over the world.

Part of the funds taken away during the Second World War ended up in Poland after the end of the war. The collection that received the title "Berlinka" includes about 300 thousand volumes of the most valuable medieval manuscripts, autographs (including Martin Luther and