2025

STRATEGIC COMPASS PREFACE FOREWORD

THE GERMAN PRESERVES AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO A MAJOR PART OF ’S CULTURAL HERITAGE.

he German National Library is the cen tral thematic areas of “Collect & Preserve”, he German National Library preserves and All of which provided the basis for formulating the archiving library and national bibliogra phic “Document & Disseminate”, “Present & Inspire” provides access to a major part of Germany’s long–term objectives. The result is summarised in T centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. and “Integrate & Organise”. Based on the T written, pictorial and sound­ recording cul­ this document. It collects, catalogues and stores the media works current situation and the changing environment, tural heritage in the form of works published since It is intended to serve as a compass which indi­ published in Germany (and works about Germa­ it identifi es the challenges which the German 1913 in Germany and in German. With a total of cates the direction for the next ten years. The actual ny published abroad) since 1913 and makes these National Library must cope with. roughly 30.8 million holdings, an annual budget planning of the stages and the specifi c topics needing available for use by the general public. The strategic compass was developed with the of € 52 million and 629 employees in and to be addressed along the way can then be based on This legal mandate of the German National participation of the German National Library am Main, it is one of the largest and most this. Concepts are developed and priorities set for Library has changed signifi cantly over the last staff and was discussed in detail by the advisory important libraries in the world. Many new forms individual products and processes and for personnel few years: traditional processes have had to be committees and the Administrative Council of of media and publications have emerged during the development which can be used to derive the next adapted; new tasks have been added. The German the German National Library; it was then fi nally course of its history spanning more than one hun­ strategic priorities for 2017 to 2020 and 2021 to 2024. National Library continuously has to face new approved by the Administrative Council at its dred years. At the same time, progress in the fi eld of In a world in which new trends can fundamental­ challenges, not only as a result of its collection meeting on June 13, 2016. information technology is developing in increasingly ly alter society within a matter of years, it may appear mandate which was expanded in 2006 to include The present strategic compass will serve as rapid steps which, in turn, is infl uencing the behav­ questionable to set objectives for a period of ten non–physical media works, but also as a conse­ important basis for the work of the German iour of library users. The German National Library years. Yet it is crucial to plan for the future if major quence of rapid technological progress, digitisa­ National Library and as a starting point for has to respond continuously to these changes in or­ development steps are to be eff ective — with the pro­ tion and the development of new distribution updating the strategic priorities for 2017 to 2020. der to fulfi l its legal mandate. To ensure an adequate visos that the result is not a rigid commitment, and and publication methods. This makes it all the response, it must review its objectives and set prior­ that all parties remain in constant dialogue. more important to consult the guidelines and ities. It must also draw up a fi nancially viable road­ In 2016 the German National Library and objectives when carrying out the individual tasks. map for achieving its objectives. its employees, its various bodies and key partner As the result of a process begun in 2012, the As the fi rst step in this direction, the library de­ institutions will begin to implement the newly German National Library has therefore drawn Dr. Günter Winands veloped its “Strategic Priorities 2013–2016” in which formulated objectives. All experience gained during up the “German National Library 2025. Strategic Chairman of the Administrative Council it set out its short and medium term objectives for the implementation will be used in turn to refi ne the compass”. This describes the development of the daily operations. This was immediately followed by long–term objectives. German National Library over the next ten years a process of clarifi cation of the long­term objectives: from the current perspective. The compass is preparatory analyses, discussions and assessments intended not only to set out the medium–term by both external and internal experts from various strategic goals of the German National Library, fi elds (taken from interviews, articles and future but also to serve as a navigation aid at all steps workshops). This process was accompanied by a dia­ along the way. Guidelines have been drawn logue with the advisory committees and the Admin­ Dr. Elisabeth Niggemann up on the basis of the legal mandate for the four istrative Council of the German National Library. Director General

2 3 THE MANDATE

COLLECT & DOCUMENT & 1 PRESERVE 2 DISSEMINATE nder its legal mandate, the German ensure the permanent usability of its collections. The extensive collections of text, image It is a major global centre for bib­ National Library collects the media works Accordingly it makes a substantial contribution or sound recording–based publications liographic information. Its reliable, U issued in Germany since 1913, as well to providing a stable information infrastructure issued since 1913 in Germany or in Ger­ digitally cross–linked, freely and as German media works, translations of German for science and for culture, both in Germany and man, constitute a comprehensive, objec­ readily usable data promote the media works into other languages and foreign internationally. Here, it collaborates closely with language media works about Germany. The the relevant specialist institutions in Germany and tive, unbiased and permanently preserved visibility of culture and knowledge media works include all text, image and sound abroad and participates actively in national and representation of a major part of the cul­ in the information age. recording–based works made available in physical international expert organisations. It also runs tural heritage of Germany based on the or non–physical form to the public, including the German Exile Archive 1933–1945, the Anne– library’s legal mandate. musical works. Only cinematic works in which Frank–Shoah Library and the German Museum of music is not to the fore, as well as works exclu­ Books and Writing. sively transmitted by broadcasting services are not The German National Library believes that its included in the collection mandate. The German mandate includes an obligation to adapt and devel­ National Library catalogues each work in a user– op its activities and processes continuously and friendly manner, indexing them openly, reliably consistently in response to developments in the and based on current international standards. This forms of media and publication. In the coming permits them to be retrieved and used worldwide. years, it will orient itself primarily to the following PRESENT & INTEGRATE & It deploys appropriate preservation measures to principles: 3 INSPIRE 4 ORGANISE It negociates with rights owners to obtain It cooperates with other rights or licenses for the worldwide use of conceptually and technologically its holdings. It uses innovative methods leading institutions and jointly to explore the diversity of its holdings and initiates and coordinates makes these available for use within the innovations aimed at forging ever reading rooms and—where possible—also closer global cultural, scientific outside the library. and educational networks.

4 5 OUR GUIDELINES COLLECT & The changing environment PRESERVE 1 • The proportion of content which is only available in digital form is rising. Such content is online, “The extensive collections of text, image Neutrality and completeness remain the openly publicising our approach. We also want to dynamic, interactive, interlinked and takes advan­ or sound recording–based publications is­ basic principles of collection building. encourage public participation in our collection tage of the possibilities offered by mobile devices. An open knowledge society requires a cultural profiling through a range of digital services. • Int ernational platforms for the use and distribution sued since 1913 in Germany or in German, memory and thus places where its publications are of digital content are gaining in relevance. constitute a comprehensive, objective, collected — independently and comprehensively. The We create international approaches for way we collect is therefore unbiased and aims at international production. • Public ations issued without the involvement of unbiased and permanently preserved rep­ completeness, regardless of the form of the publi­ Only through cooperation with other cultural in­ traditional music labels and publishers are enjoying cations or the way in which they are released. The stitutions is it possible to work towards standardised resentation of a major part of the cultural increasing popularity. This often results in the loss digital revolution has had little or no effect on the procedures for global digital distribution platforms. heritage of Germany based on the library’s goal of completeness in the collecting of physical Ideally we are looking to create international and of established forms of evaluation and selection legal mandate.” media. New procedures must be developed for digital cross–institutional processes which may help the within the publication process. publications and the notion of completeness must relevant depositors and memory institutions to • Di gital formats come and go within a short space be redefined, yet we are continuing (and refining) perform their respective “” roles. We of time, web offerings are becoming more complex, the established practices and procedures for printed also promote the necessary legislation and technical works. At the same time we are taking a close look at solutions. more and more content is only available on access– Web services and new forms of media, while striving restricted, proprietary platforms. to achieve completeness in the medium–term in the We develop procedures and standards • T he consequence of all this is that publications collection of commercial and university publications for the preservation of media from the are released in a variety of formats, meaning that Current situation in digital form. 20th and 21st centuries. Our goal remains preservation of the original pub­ more agreements need to be made with individual • Roughly 4,000 publications are added to our The aim is to capture the diversity of the lication and the original use experience. Systematic providers, and specific delivery solutions must be holdings every day — a figure which is steadily rising. Web and to document its development. description of the condition and the usability of the found. The collection of every particle of information holdings is to be greatly expanded in order to identi­ The collections of the German National Library • Media bound aries are eroding, historical content published on the Web in Germany and its lossless fy which support measures are needed, and to ensure currently total approximately 28.7 million physical archiving is neither desirable nor possible in terms of sufficient time for devising and scheduling these. In is being reissued in digital form. Private lives and media works as a result of the legal deposit regu­ capacity and resources. Our goal, however, is to cooperation with other memory institutions and everyday culture have entered the public sphere. lation and the additional acquisitions of books, create a representative, unbiased overview of this relevant bodies, we will continue to develop best periodicals, maps, sound recordings, sheet music testimony and its development by collecting practices, recommendations and standards for the “snapshots” of the Web, and to preserve this for the preservation of digital and physical media. Challenges and literary estates. future. Some websites play a particularly important • Digital media now account for half of the acquisi­ role in the social and academic discourse and should We are committed to the development • Making an appropriate selection: the diversity of tions. New methods and processes have had to be be preserved as models of their kind as complete­ of common, trustworthy archive infra­ the Web is relevant as testimony, but it is not set up for their collection and archiving. The ly and authentically as possible. To achieve this, structures. possible to collect everything. nonspecific mass approaches and special customised The permanent preservation of the growing digital library has already succeeded in integrating many • Finding solutions for handling large amounts solutions need to be found in collaboration with the heritage can only be ensured in the long term by (but not yet all) publishers and producers of digital providers. disparately funded services that are operated by spe­ of different kinds of data. media into its new delivery methods. New distribu­ cialised institutions. In the area of Web archiving, • Setting up a legal framework for cooperative tion channels have recently evolved, especially in Selection and quality assurance are cooperation is also the best option from the perspec - collection and archiving. subject to an open and transparent tive of usage: no institution by itself is capable of the field of music, requiring the development of • Drawing up practicable rules for institutionally process. setting up an all–content–embracing Web archive new processes. Just as the decision whether printed publications are which meets all technical requirements. Here we are and territorially distributed responsibilities. • Web archiving is still also in its infancy. Approxi­ to be collected is based on formal (and not content– committed to shared solutions for Germany and • Anticipating the ephemeral nature of many Web mately 1,100 selected websites are currently being related) criteria, appropriate criteria also need to be Europe based on distributed responsibilities. This services and raising awareness among providers and defined for digital publications. In cases where there would also allow solutions to be developed on a regularly harvested. Comprehensive crawling of the users of the associated problems. are no publishers and other intermediary agents to cooperative and uniform basis for fundamental “.de” domain has also been experimented with. act as appraising and regulating institutions between issues such as the protection of personal rights. For • Ensuring the usability of digital media despite This is restricted, however, by technical and finan­ authors and their readers, we need to organise the this reason we are continuing to participate in the permanent evolution of formats and the cial limitations. selection ourselves. Here we seek intensive dialogue initiatives and projects aimed at paving the way for dependency on proprietary devices. with experts, stakeholders and cultural institutions, common and trustworthy technical solutions. • The maintenance of books and other carrier­bound • Devising and applying international standards materials requires increased preventive activities for the collection and archiving of digital content. such as deacidification, collection care, preserva­ • Protecting personal rights (including the “right tion and restoration, or the precautionary creation to be forgotten”) while still fulfilling the archive of secondary forms by means of digitisation. mandate.

6 7 OUR GUIDELINES DOCUMENT & 2 DISSEMINATE

“It is a major global centre for biblio­ We ensure that the documentation of our we are adding our holdings data to the digital graphic information. Its reliable, digitally holdings is up–to–date, comprehensive knowledge network. The resulting cross–linked and reliable. information forms the basis for additional access cross–linked, freely and readily usable Even in times of increasing numbers of digital points, improved data and cross–organisation data promote the visibility of culture and publications, we fulfil the legal mandate for the services provided by the German National Library bibliographic indexing of our collections without and third parties. knowledge in the information age.” exception and in reliable quality. We will continue to break new ground in the cataloguing and supply We make use of the possibilities offered of data. by automatic procedures. Only with machine support is it possible to cope The changing environment Our cataloguing is geared towards with the growing amount of new publications to be practical use. catalogued. Automatic techniques provide technical • Mor e and more data are being produced, The usability of our data is our overriding priority. advantages which we also want to exploit. For combined and analysed worldwide (“big data”, Therefore, we regularly analyse the use of our data example, they allow additional structural levels, such and ensure their suitability for standard applications. as individual articles, to be rendered accessible in “data mining”). searches. In addition, the processes can be opti­ • T he ability to evaluate the constantly increasing As a data hub, we ensure a permanent mised and then reapplied for all digital resources, masses of data is becoming increasingly important. supply of up–to–date bibliographic thus allowing improved results to be obtained. We Related technologies and professions are evolving information. are also investing in better computer–based support We develop a differentiated data supply programme for the intellectual process of cataloguing printed (“data analysts”). for our partner institutions in the fields of culture, materials. We are working on the development of • Infor mation which is not featured prominently in science and education, and also for information processes which take into account and combine the Current situation the results of large search engines loses visibility services. We treat bibliographic records not as different — complementary — strengths of humans and and importance. discrete units, but as containers of information: any machines. • The most important function of our catalogu­ basic information, once made available, is gradually • A v irtual network of information (“semantic Web”, ing work is to provide a national bibliographic enriched by us and our partner institutions with We are expanding our capabilities in “Web of data”) is superimposed on the real world. reference: our freely accessible data document further data. All updates can be understood and the area of bulk data evaluation and • “ Stand–alone” specialist databases are merging on used by all. harmonisation. everything that has been published in Germany, in the Internet (“linked data”). The ability to evaluate and process large amounts German or about Germany since 1913. They form Our data can be deployed universally of data is becoming increasingly important for our the basis of our own search services and are inte­ and flexibly and can be cooperatively work: it is necessary for large–scale rectification of Challenges grated into the retrieval and information systems supplemented. errors and inconsistencies in our data and to bring of our partner institutions around the world. We ensure the expandability and flexible reusability the data up to modern standards. It is also the basis • T ackling the sharp increase in the amount of of our data: a universal core of information should for many automated cataloguing processes and for • W e provide services for different systems: our data media to be catalogued. be suitable for different scenarios and able to be efficient comparisons with external databases. And interfaces and formats can be used by both well– used outside the library context. This core can be it is a precondition for the systematic analysis of • Ensuring that the data created are suitable both established and newly–developed library systems. supplemented by technical and application–specific the data base for quality assurance and optimisation for traditional and new applications. We supply user groups inside and outside the additions which we or our partner institutions purposes. For this reason we intend to expand our • R econciling the freshness and reliability of the data. provide. expertise in this field. library community by applying universal web • Achieving visibility despite the growing flood standards. Cataloguing means linking: our data We are pioneers in the field of modern of data. • W e are working towards the application of interna­ constitute an information network. cataloguing. • S etting up a cultural data network between tional and contemporary standards for cataloguing With a view to the “Web of data” trend we are We apply new procedures, tools and methods for the various sectors and improving access to committed to producing semantically linked, contemporary cataloguing and information provi­ and for data exchange and coordinate these in the global heritage. machine–readable data. We will model the informa­ sion at an early stage. We contribute to the work the German–speaking countries and together with tion on our resources as a network of relationships of international committees, putting forward ideas • E stablishing international and cross–system partner institutions worldwide. between entities such as works, persons, corpora­ and defining requirements in cooperative research cataloguing processes. • A t present the cataloguing environments and tions, events and places. projects for sustainable cataloguing. In this role we • Incorporating external expertise in our are also working on the developing of cataloguing systems are only insufficiently linked to external cataloguing work. We link our data nationally and globally. codes and formats in international committees for databases. In addition, there is a lack of Based on the principle of linked data we are building the benefit of libraries in Germany, Austria and the • Creating sustainable work environments and coordinated processes between institutions. more and more bridges to other databases at the German–speaking parts of Switzerland as well as for processes for cataloguing. • Suppor t in the form of automated processes is on national and global level. Through these connections other cultural institutions. • Expandin g the expertise and infrastructure in the track, but much still needs to be developed. areas of data analysis and automatic cataloguing.

8 9 OUR GUIDELINES PRESENT & 3 INSPIRE

“It negociates with rights owners We know our users’ requirements. pragmatic regulations which respect the interests of to obtain rights or licenses for the We put our users at the heart of our access services. the copyright holders for the use of archived free To meet their needs more effectively, we remain in Web content and text fragments, in particular in the worldwide use of its holdings. It uses close contact with the users themselves and with context of research and education. The changing environment innovative methods to explore the partner institutions, and seek to intensify the contact with the various groups. Up–to–date and complete, any time, • The advances in the field of artificial intelligence diversity of its holdings and makes anywhere: we are modernising mean that algorithms are taking over the processing We create places for encounters, for online access to the Deutsche National­ these available for use within the and presentation of information in more and research, for learning and inspiration. bibliografie. reading rooms and—where possible— Within our financial and architectural possibilities It will remain crucial for future generations to be more areas. also outside the library.” we continuously modernise the premises of both able to use a neutral service to search for published • Information searches are increasingly being sites. In response to changing usage patterns and materials. The distribution of national bibliographic conducted by a handful of market leaders. Their the growing amount of digital resources, we are information via commercial third–party providers is algorithms determine the visibility of cultural creating better opportunities for working with not sufficient for this. We are therefore modernising digital content. We want to take greater account of our search services and offering state–of–the–art, objects in everyday life. the communication and movement needs of our barrier–free direct access to the Deutsche National­ • C ontent which is not accessible at any time and users in addition to meeting the continuing demand bibliografie. The intention is for this complex from anywhere loses visibility and importance. for spaces devoted to quiet working. The extension bibliographic information to be used increasingly • D ata and media are increasingly being used via spaces at both locations create the option for in the background to support intelligent searches, establishing library areas with flexible architecture thereby making user–unfriendly expert searches mobile devices and in interaction with the actual which can adapt to changing ways of working in increasingly superfluous. environment (“augmented reality”). research and education in addition to new dedicated • T he automatic analysability of digital resources is stack areas. As a cultural location, we offer a forum Nudging providence in the right direction: giving rise to new research areas and approaches Current situation for social debate. we provide access for explorers. Modern services make it possible to browse and (“digital humanities”). • A s a reference library we offer access to the entire Digitisation, licensing, open access: forage for hidden thematic connections across • The trend is moving away from conventional collection on our premises. Use of the digital The access we provide to our resources collections, media types and time frames. By setting reading rooms towards different learning and is as open as is legally possible. up a personal interest profile, users should also be resources is growing rapidly. Specially equipped research rooms containing equipment that permits We also endeavour to make our digital collections able to gain personalised access to our holdings and media workstations are required for this. accessible outside the rooms of the library, copy­ new acquisitions. A varying selection of theme–based computer–assisted analysis of the resources. • Ri ghts permitting, we allow use of digital publi­ right and other intellectual property rights permit­ showcases will be designed to highlight selected parts cations outside of the library premises. We make ting. To this end, within our financial limits and of the collection. Challenges use of the possibility to license out–of–commerce where appropriate, we are investing in the digitisa­ tion and the licensing of out–of–commerce works. We develop services for the automated works and publications issued prior to 1966 in • Providing up–to–date and modern access to our Our digitisation projects should have a thematic fo­ analysis of the digital resources and all Germany ourselves and provide a central service to cus and therefore support research, cultural projects, metadata. collections and their topics. other libraries for the licensing of such works. and social debate in a targeted manner. The financial We create new services that support modern, • Maint aining and increasing the visibility of our • People searching for information via the Internet resources required for this should be raised as data–based research approaches. In expanding this collections and services. third–party funding. area, we are collaborating with research partners on can launch catalogue searches around the clock • C ontinuing to reach our various user groups. “digital humanities” support projects. and retrieve growing amounts of extra information We are involved in copyright discussions, • Adapting rooms and services to the changing such as tables of contents and book covers in as we attach a great deal of importance We develop long–term presentation user requirements. addition to cataloguing data. This service is to the protection of intellectual prop­ concepts for our collections and topics. • S earching for better ways to use our resources, erty rights. At the same time we point The presentation methods for the German Exile popular and there is rising demand for it, however while respecting the rights of authors and other out gaps and contradictions in existing Archive, the German Museum of Books and Writing it needs to be continuously modernised, both regulations and formulate suggestions and special collections are being developed. Our rights holders. technically and functionally. for changes on the basis of our practical exhibitions at the Leipzig and Frankfurt sites display • Making more content available (including outside • W e offer special presentations of selected topics experience as an archive library. special exhibits as originals. And, they also the premises) through digitisation and licensing, We take active part in the discussions on con­ supplement our virtual exhibitions which can be such as exile and book history. Virtual and physical and providing the necessary technical, temporary copyright regulations that protect the accessed from anywhere in the world. We always exhibitions, educational media, events and publi­ rights of creators, and draw attention to regulations address current issues in order to stimulate public organisational and financial framework for this. cations provide an opportunity to discuss current that represent a source of legal uncertainty for interest and to bring history to life. Here, we • Pr oviding services and tools for analysis of the events and developments on the basis of historical archive libraries or restrict access for cultural, cooperate with universities, schools and other resources. academic and educational purposes. We support educational and cultural institutions. testimony. • K eeping pace with technical progress.

10 11 OUR GUIDELINES INTEGRATE & 4 ORGANISE

“It cooperates with other conceptually Our central services promote the overlapping of Web collection mandates is likely and technologically leading institutions collaboration. to result in some objects being collected several More than ever we are dependent on close coopera­ times over and others not at all. Our commitment and jointly initiates and coordinates tion with our partner institutions. At the same time, to the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (DDB) innovations aimed at forging ever closer IT progress is providing better options for organising illustrates our approach: to us and all other cultural the cooperation and integrating it into our daily oper­ institutions, the DDB represents a key strategic global cultural, scientific and educational ations. For this reason we are developing our range platform for putting our own mandates onto a more networks.” of central services for other cultural and scientific in­ efficient and user–oriented basis. The cooperation stitutions so that we in turn can benefit from their with the DDB will help preserve and guarantee the work. Where possible, we will use existing services availability of digital services offered by German already provided by third parties and integrate them cultural institutions, and to make these available to into our own. Our partner institutions should be able users in a comprehensive service. We will therefore • Given the great complexity and major challenges to collaborate even more closely in the environment continue to support the development of the DDB involved, the organisation of collaboration with Current situation we provide. In return, we benefit from the expertise in our current roles, with our services and with our they contribute and the growing knowledge base. expertise. many partner institutions is an important • Engaging in activities which extend beyond the prerequisite for fulfilling our legal mandate. confines of our own library is explicitly enshrined We attach importance to joint We are committed to supporting innova­ in our legal mandate. To this end, we have been cataloguing processes. tive developments. We intend to further develop the existing approaches Our mandate requires ongoing and intensive The changing environment working successfully together with a variety of for collaborative cataloguing in cooperation projects. exploration of new forms of publication and specialist cultural, academic and educational Only by means of jointly used and maintained developments in media technologies and user habits. • Services and infrastructures which have hitherto institutions for many years at the national and databases and interconnected processes is it possible We regularly collaborate on research in this field and been run on a local or regional basis are increas­ to conduct contemporary cataloguing which is based share our experience and developments with our international level on a basis of trust. ingly being replaced by Web services provided by more on the linking of data than on multiple partner institutions. • W e define the main areas of standardisation work storage. In addition, we will redouble our efforts to central providers (“cloud computing”, “Internet of and function as a competence centre (and are evaluate external data sources (so–called third–party We participate in socio–political debates Services”). regarded as such) in the fields of cataloguing, data)—for example, publisher announcements, on legal and cultural policy issues. • European integration and the powerful waves of factual databases, online encyclopaedias or diction­ We seek dialogue with a variety of stakeholders from collection care, licensing, data formats, data immigration to Europe are giving rise to a growing aries and bibliographic data from international government, culture, academia, the creative indus­ interfaces and long–term preservation. sources—and make this additional information tries and the media in informal talks, workshops need for cross–border cultural services. • W e also offer central services and free software, available to our partner institutions in the form and conferences to discuss the role of memory insti­ • Major historical holdings are being given a second such as a central national service for the licensing of a central data pool. tutions in the age of the Internet and to promote a home on the Web through digitisation projects. contemporary legal, financial and organisational of out–of–commerce works (VW–LiS), a However, their long–term preservation is generally Our authority data service builds bridges framework. cooperation platform for digital preservation between the data of the different cultural not included in the project financing. (AREDO) and a service for the allocation of stable sectors. We are committed to building a • The technical infrastructure requirements of web addresses for the reliable quotation of digital Our range of authority data will play an important cooperative network for culture, science cultural institutions are converging. sources (URN–Service). role in the area of data linking: our bibliographic and education. information is linked via authority data to the data­ Networks do not create themselves. Cultural and • Our aut hority data and linking services have bases of other libraries and cultural institutions. academic institutions are required for their develop­ Challenges allowed us and our partner institutions to set up The cooperatively maintained entities constitute key ment and functionality. They organise the interac- a collective data base. The service is in great points of connection for establishing a cultural data tion in clearly distributed roles at the national and • Improving the legal, financial and organisational demand from museums and archives, although it is network. Therefore, together with our partners, we global level, assume responsibility and help create framework for ongoing cooperation. are planning to open up the service to all sectors in an environment of trustworthiness, confidence and currently still primarily focused on library interests. • Taking advantage of synergies and organising the cultural domain, while ensuring that all library– stability. Dispensing with coordinators would weak­ • A s coordinator of the competence network and related concerns continue to be taken into account. en the networks and ultimately make their tasks the cooperation between cultural and academic service centre for the joint „Deutsche Digitale This will also benefit interdisciplinary projects such responsibility of a handful of multinational, institutions worldwide. Bibliothek“ project, we contribute to its further as the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek and Europeana. profit–oriented companies. This represents an ideal • Defining collection areas and responsibilities. position for the German National Library to development in coordination with the relevant • E stablishing common infrastructures and We are committed to the Deutsche responsibly fulfil its legal mandate and, together bodies and support cultural and knowledge Digitale Bibliothek. Cross–discipline with its partners, to establish and play a significant developing coordinated processes. institutions in integrating their collections. collaborations prevent gaps in the role in the preservation of and access to significant • Combining individual collections from various Furthermore, one of the two project managers is “cultural memory”. parts of the German cultural heritage since 1913. institutions through digitisation and data linking Extended cooperation in the area of collecting will based in the German National Library. to create a global, digital, cultural memory. carry special weight in the future. This is because

12 13 German National Library (Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main) 2016

Project coordination Jürgen Kett

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ISBN 978–3–941113–46–6 urn:nbn:de:101–2016071102

This strategy paper and further information on the German National Library can be obtained from:

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Marketing und Kommunikation Adickesallee 1, 60322 Frankfurt am Main [email protected] www.dnb.de