The special library of the German Museum of Books and Writing at the German National Library features more than 90,000 volumes of German-language and international specialist literature on media history and book culture. It also contains around 200 current periodicals. The works range from the sixteenth century to the present. In its focus on the history of books, writing and paper, the special library of the German Museum of Books and Writing offers researchers from a huge variety of disciplines a unique site for studying media history.

Holdings of the Klemm Collection

The holdings of specialist literature in the Collection founded by Heinrich Klemm forms the basis of the German Museum of Books and Writing. It is continuously expanded in line with the needs and wishes of users.

Holdings of the Library of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association)

The two historically developed sections of the Library of the Börsenverein were brought together at the Leipzig site in 2016. Since that time, this collection encompasses around 20,000 volumes of older literature on publishing-related topics dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (holdings of the Leipzig Börsenverein), as well as over 16,000 media units of specialist literature, predominantly dating from the twentieth century (holdings of the Frankfurt Börsenverein).

Special holdings’ groups

Alongside the current German-language specialist literature, we also acquire more recent and older international specialist literature on the history of books, writing, paper and media for the special library.

The special holdings include:

• Commercial prints such as ephemera, company brochures and catalogues,
• Calligrapher’s books, print samples, measurements catalogues,
• Historic textbooks and handbooks,
• Format books, company catalogues and sample books (sample books from paper manufacturers, paper processors and wholesalers).

Museum reading room

Our museum reading room offers a reference library, organised according to a classification scheme, with over 3,700 important reference works and key monographs on books, writing and paper. The reading room’s classification scheme provides a starting point for your searches. The museum reading room also offers information on electronically available works.

Contact: Bettina Rüdiger