Nationalbibliothek

A Nationalbibliothek, or national library, is the principal library of a country and the designated memory institution responsible for collecting, preserving, and providing access to the nation’s published cultural heritage. It often serves as the authoritative source for national bibliographies and strives to safeguard the documentary record of the country’s history and culture.

Typical functions include legal deposit and copyright deposit, acquiring and cataloging national and often significant foreign publications, preserving fragile manuscripts and rare items, and maintaining national bibliographies. National libraries also engage in digitization and long-term digital preservation, and they provide access through reading rooms, online catalogs, digital collections, and metadata services. They may participate in international library networks and contribute to open data initiatives.

Governance and funding vary by country, but national libraries are typically funded by the state or public authorities. They may operate as autonomous institutions or under a ministry and collaborate with archives, museums, and other libraries to coordinate national preservation, access strategies, and cultural policy.

Examples commonly cited include the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek in Germany (with sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main), the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna, the Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek in Bern, and the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. While the specific duties and organizational structures differ, national libraries share a core mandate to collect, preserve, and ensure enduring access to a country’s literary and documentary heritage for current and future generations.