No extension for the German National Library

The German National Library in Leipzig will not be getting the extension it had hoped for. Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer has decided against the realization of the project, the National Library announced. It criticized the rejection. The new space was urgently needed.

The fifth extension was intended to create long-term space to collect and store books and other media. The storage capacity in Leipzig is almost exhausted. "The planned new building should enable energy-efficient and sustainable preservation of the national cultural heritage," explained the library.

Minister of State for Culture wants digital collection

A spokesperson for the Minister of State for Culture confirmed that the new building will not be built. "Minister of State Weimer is aiming to make the mandatory submission to the German National Library as digital as possible in future."

According to the law, publishers currently have to deliver two physical copies to the library. Weimer is committed to ensuring that in future there will only be one copy - and, if possible, exclusively in digital form. This would help to reduce bureaucracy.

In addition, the National Library is already moving books from Leipzig to its second location in Frankfurt. There is still storage capacity available there. It is being examined how to proceed with the holdings in Leipzig in view of the exhausted space.

National Library: alternatives also cost money

The National Library pointed out that alternative solutions also cost money. In addition, around seven million euros had already been spent on planning the extension.

The German National Library has been archiving all publications in German since 1913. It has locations in Leipzig and Frankfurt. According to the library, around 13,100 new works are received every day, of which 3,300 are in analog and 9,800 in digital form.