Report on the State of Libraries in Germany - Facts and Figures 2019/2020
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Report on the State
of Libraries in Germany
Facts and Figures
2019/2020
1
Editorial
Dear readers,
Libraries are the embodiment Open Access to public research
of the right enshrined in the results is one of the aims of
constitution to freedom of academic libraries. Open Access
information, and contribute to to digital information, for exam
spreading knowledge and help ple, promotes the dissemination
forming opinions. They provide all of academic findings. Digitali
citizens with the opportunity to sation facilitates and enables
play an active role in society while involvement by citizens in
the services they offer help put in questions and answers coming
place the necessary prerequisites from research projects.
for ensuring literacy and media
competence. Libraries need support for these
socially important responsibilities.
In an era of misinformation and The political support necessary
growth of populism, libraries to achieve this you will find
are more important than ever. in the present report on the state
To effectively counteract these of libraries in Germany. I hope you
developments, we would find this a stimulating read.
be well advised to protect our
libraries from political influence Sincerely,
and provide robust support for
the work they do. Prof. Dr. Andreas Degkwitz
Federal Chairperson of the
German Library Association (dbv)
Image:
2 © dbv/Janko
Viewpoints
What our partners say
“The role of libraries in ancient “Public libraries monitor the pulse “For all libraries, digitalisation is
times was to gather and retain of our society: as repositories a synonym for challenge - in
information that was of particular of culture and knowledge, terms of conception, finance
relevance to scholarship and they reflect the many different and staffing. This also applies to
society as a whole. Libraries have interests and conceptions of academic libraries as it does to
therefore always been more than life in our time. With the increas all others. What is mainly driving
simply collections of manuscripts ing digitalisation of all areas of this in their case is the increasing
or books. They are places of our lives, libraries are becoming development of Open Access
education and bastions against hugely significant in towns and Open Science. These complex
ignorance and neglect. For socie and cities, and not least in rural phenomena are forcing the entire
ties undergoing radical changes, regions, as public spaces. As academic system to rethink
in crisis or with populations on ‘analogue’ locations for meeting and to create new structures -
the move, libraries were always and exchanging views, libraries from the funding of publications
locations where cultural affirma are able, when they adopt a through to the archiving of
tion could be found and resil contemporary focus, to also research data. Libraries are at
ience strengthened. All the more explore new forms of participation the centre of this development
important therefore that libraries and organisation, and to make and are taking on responsibility,
and their holdings are open to community spirit, diversity for example, for the setting
all, that they actively reach out to and tolerance both practicable up and operation of repositories.
people and also seek to appeal to and tangible. This remarkably In most cases the public is
those who would otherwise not huge potential for public libraries rarely aware of this but it is a
find their way into a library. Over to address the fragility of social highly political undertaking:
recent decades libraries have cohesion is being promoted globally available free and rapid
undertaken exemplary work in by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes access to knowledge promotes
terms of online cataloguing and through our program hochdrei – academic freedom, equality
publication of their holdings on Changing City Libraries.” of opportunity, international
line. The availability and visibility exchange and quality in research.”
of their holdings has significantly Hortensia Völckers
increased and has also made Artistic Director of the German Prof. Dr. Peter-André Alt
these accessible for users in poor Federal Cultural Foundation President of the German Rectors'
ly-served and rural regions. Conference
In so doing libraries are making
a major contribution to cultural
education, to diversity and to
social cohesion.”
Prof. Dr. Markus Hilgert
Secretary General of the
Cultural Foundation of the
Images:
© Götz Schleser German Federal States
© Sebastian Mayer
© HRK/David Ausserhofer 3
Statistics
German libraries in figures
Across Germany there are approximately 9400 public and academic libraries.
These were visited more than 220 million times in 2018 .
340 million 29 million 240,608 user
books, films and e-media items in workstations
music titles public libraries In 2018, a total 240,608 of user
workstations were available of
In 2018, public libraries lent Public libraries lend out more than
which 105,461 were in public libraries
out around 340 million books, 29 million e-books or other individual
and 135,147 in academic libraries.
films and music titles. electronic media items each year.
81% Wi-Fi 550,000 people 425,000 events
coverage in receive training In 2018, public and academic
large cities More than 550,000 people
libraries organised 425,000 events.
In addition to readings and
participated in training courses, exhibitions, libraries also organised
Around 81% of public libraries
tours, teaching events and digital and media literacy courses,
in towns and cities with
webinars organised by academic game conventions, makerspace
more than 50,000 residents
libraries. activities, programming workshops,
offered Wi-Fi in 2018.
language courses and training
courses. Of these, 190,000 (44.8%)
alone were events designed for
278 million users 58% for digital children in public libraries.
access e-books media in
in academic academic
libraries libraries
Around 58% of expenditure for
In academic libraries, users
acquisitions (€329 million) by
have accessed e-books some
academic libraries was used to
278 million times and have
acquire digital media in 2018.
also accessed digital journal
articles around 78 million times.
Source:
German Library Statistics
4 (DBS) 2018
Libraries and democracy
The dbv calls for:
Libraries must be protected against any form
of political interference
Part of the core mission of libraries is to contribute In many cases the media provision is supplemented
to freedom of expression and the unrestricted by events. Through the programmes they offer,
provision of information. Libraries are pluralistic libraries continue the heritage of education and the
when it comes to their holdings; in other words values expressed in the constitution. Since the
they reflect a diversity of ideas, opinions and beginning, libraries in Germany have championed
thoughts. Policymakers must ensure that freedom the protection and defence of these values.
of information is also safeguarded for all citizens
in the future and that libraries are supported as As developments contrary to this begin to threaten,
locations where information is freely available a clear commitment to the values of the constitution
and opinions can be freely expressed. and to the European idea is essential, as is
working actively within society to reinforce
Libraries enable their users to seek arguments for these values. Increased awareness of attempts to
and against particular issues for and against particu influence libraries politically is required. In times
lar outlooks and to develop their own views and such as these, it is incumbent on library patrons and
opinions. In so doing, libraries contribute to the on policymakers in particular that they provide
formation of opinion on political issues and to long-term support and protection for the remit and
social participation. mission assigned to libraries.
5
Continuing education
The dbv calls for:
Increased investment in continuing
education and training
Continuing
education
8.3%
Only 8.3% of public libraries
managed on a full-time basis achieve
the minimum library standard of
3% for training of personnel
Libraries respond to changes impacting on digital forms of literacy promotion and media
society as a whole, such as digitalisation, reception, training in media and information skills
demographic transition, the increased need as well as the creative use of digital tools. Among
for Open Access locations and new forms the key tasks today for libraries is networking
of citizen participation. This leads to a great and collaborating in projects, and this requires
change in the tasks of library staff. Today, the personnel to have the relevant qualifications.
in addition to having librarianship skills, Currently, however, only 8.3% of public libraries
staff members also need social, communicative, achieve the minimum required standard* of a
IT and organisational skills together with media training ratio of 3% of working days.
competence. Many libraries however do
not have a budget that enables them to fund Libraries urgently need new staff training concepts
training. Greater investment is therefore in order to provide the expertise required in the area
needed in continuing education and training of IT, in media education and to appeal to specific
so that the systematic staff development target groups. In order to support existing personnel
required can be realised. in adapting to these changes, more must be invest
ed in continuing education and training.
Increasing visitor numbers, new target groups and
altered expectations mean that the scope of
duties has broadened. Although the provision of
information and knowledge certainly remains
the core function, advice and information activities
now also encompass digital services as well as * Source: DBS 2018, Indikator
für Personalentwicklung/
Mindeststandard cf. 21 gute
Gründe für gute Bibliotheken.
Leitlinien für Entscheider,
issued by Bibliothek &
6 Information Deutschland 2009Copyright law
The dbv calls for:
Copyright law must be interpreted in a way
that is in the interests of library users while
the exemption provision for libraries must be
extended for an indefinite time
28 February 2023:
Date of expiry of the
current exemption
§
provision for libraries
in Germany
Copyright Knowledge-Society Act
(“Urheberrechtswissensgesellschaftsgesetz") ?
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
In the digital world, science and research need Since the UrhWissGesetz came into effect on 1 March
an up-to-date copyright law. The ‘exemption 2018 initially for a five-year period only, the dbv is
provisions’ in the Act to align Copyright Law with urging policymakers to set about extending the law
the Current Demands of the Knowledge-based for an indefinite period and for the key exemption
Society (UrhWissGesetz - Urheberwissens- provisions for libraries to continue to apply even
gesellschaftsgesetz) currently provides libraries after the date of their proposed expiry at the end
with the certainty that they will not violate legal of February 2023.
requirements. In order for library users to be
able to continue benefitting from the provisions The EU Directive on Copyright in the Single Market
in the future, these exemptions must be extended adopted in March 2019 regulates certain aspects
for an indefinite period. relevant to libraries. Legislation concerning some
aspects of the EU Directive has already been
Copyright law impacts on libraries and their users in implemented in Germany. To safeguard freedom
various ways - when it comes to the use of texts of expression and free provision of information,
or images in research and teaching, when accessing there should be no algorithms for filtering data
out-of-print items or digitising texts with unknown imposed on libraries in Germany. In the course
authors. In the digital age, copyright law must of implementation, it must also be ensured that
be regularly updated as circumstances change. The e-lending is regulated by law.
so-called ‘exemption provisions’ for libraries
and research are specified in Art. 60a to 60e of the
German Copyright Act (UrhG).
7E-book lending
The dbv calls for:
Extension of public lending rights to e-books
Printed book
PRINTED
book
e-book e-book
book
book
Printed book
book
e-book e-book
Printed
Printed book
Printed
Printed
book
€ €€€
As digitalisation progresses, texts are increasingly Secondly, fixed book pricing does not apply to
being read online or take the form of e-books. e-books and, as a result, licensing costs for libraries
Libraries, however, are unable to make many books are significantly higher than for private purchasers.
available to users before months after the
publication date. For libraries, the acquisition costs The dbv is therefore calling for statutory framework
are also much higher than for bookshop customers. conditions for e-book lending to be rapidly
To guarantee full access to information in the adapted to the needs of the digital age and for
electronic sector, public lending legislation must access to information in the electronic sector to
also be extended to the lending of e-books. be guaranteed. The public lending permission
for libraries urgently need to be extended from
Digitalisation has changed the way we read. Books printed books to ebooks.
and magazines are still read although this is increas
ingly done online or in the form of e-books. Barely
any book title or magazine is published without
a digital version. However, libraries face problems
when it comes to providing their users with e-books.
One reason for this is the imposition of so-called
‘windowing’ that, among other things, means that
libraries may not be able to lend out bestsellers until
twelve months following their publication date.
8Network infrastructure
The dbv calls for:
The nationwide expansion of the network
infrastructure must be ensured
Internet access
22%
No internet
As public institutions supplying information, Lebensverhältnisse committee, appointed by the
libraries have a significant role to play in digital federal government in July 2018, proposed that
participation. They are only able to comply with increasing support should be provided to libraries in
this wider social responsibility if an appropriate rural areas. Libraries are able and willing to take on
network infrastructure and technical equipment the challenges of digital transformation. Expansion
which meets requirements is provided. However of the digital infrastructure is an essential require
the situation in the roughly 7200 public library ment in this regard.
systems in Germany is very varied: of the approxi-
mately 2000 libraries managed on a full-time With advancing digitalisation, the ability to
basis, 82% do have internet access, however of the contribute to establishing equal opportunities for
5200 libraries in rural areas, which are managed on all requires connection to the fibre-optic network,
a voluntary or part-time basis, only approximately equipment which meets requirements and is
22% are connected to the internet. technically up-to-date as well as public and
free-of-charge access to digital information and
As readily accessible centres of culture and to electronic features, such as e-books and film
education, libraries contribute to social and cultural streaming services. Only in this way can library
life. As stipulated in the Federal Government provision in both rural regions and in towns
coalition agreement, the intention is to examine and cities be brought to the desperately needed
how, in the digital age, libraries can continue level. This will require collaboration on the part
to function as important promoters of education of the federal government, federal states and
and culture. In view of the current challenges facing the local authorities.
society, a working group of the Gleichwertige
* Source: DBS 2018 9Open Access Transformation
The dbv calls for:
Policymakers must provide strategic and financial
support to the establishment of Open Access
To do: Patrons and funding bodies To do: Libraries
- Political and strategic support - New budget structures
- Funding for new responsibilities - Agile procurement processes
- Safeguarding library budgets - Up-to-date publication services
- Cooperation: - Interlibrary collaboration
federal govt./states, international
- Promotion of new reputation
systems
As contemporary service centres, academic The agreement between Wiley and the Projekt
libraries fulfil their core tasks of supplying DEAL institutions in 2019 provided for a large scale
information for research, teaching and study, also transition of scholarly journals to Open Access. But
under the conditions of the digital environment. more needs to be done to promote Open Access to
In order to safeguard this, national and academic information and findings. To enable pur
international cooperation structures must chasing, licensing, the supply of documentation and
be established and the funding of these core Open Access, libraries require political support, joint
tasks must be secured over the long term. strategies, national as well as international coopera
tion and long-term funding through their patrons in
The increase in electronically available content the federal government and federal states.
and the development of new publication formats
mean that the ways through which information is
supplied to academia are changing and diversifying.
The transformation of the publication market and
the huge number of different business models
resulting from this show that libraries face major
problems and new responsibilities.
10Financial situation
The dbv calls for:
Libraries must be enabled to develop
as ‘third places’
S,
O R NER
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Today, libraries undertake a range of other tasks spaces, creating new group workstations and
in addition to media provision and education. by creating an up-to-date children's library.
As non-commercial and readily accessible public The annual financial survey conducted among
spaces, they are used as venues for education public libraries run on a full-time basis revealed
and leisure activities. However, in order to be that 46% - i.e. just under half of the responding
able to develop their potential in terms of the libraries – were unable to fund any necessary
varied possible uses, smart investment is infrastructure renewal from their existing budgets.
required in their equipment and in the design Almost 51% of libraries report they need additional
and organisation of spaces. funds for essential building measures.
In the digital society in particular, locations where However, despite the increased need for funding
people can meet and communicate are becoming due to the additional responsibilities and
increasingly important. Public libraries provide requirements, there has been no increase in
numerous opportunities in this regard, all of which budgets after many years of cost cutting - a good
are actively used: in many locations visitor numbers 73% of libraries surveyed stated that their overall
are increasing and users are spending much budget had remained the same as the previous
longer on-site than previously. In order to respond year. If local authorities wish to create more
flexibly to these changes in patterns of use, attractive meeting places for their citizens, they
investment is needed in many libraries - for the must provide more funding in the future.
redesign of premises to transform these into centres
of learning and encounter e.g. by setting up maker
Source: Financial survey
undertaken by the dbv of some
1,350 public libraries, 2018) 11Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e.V. (dbv)
– German Library Association
National Head Office
Fritschestraße 27–28
D-10585 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 644 98 99 10
Fax: +49 30 644 98 99 29
www.bibliotheksverband.de bibverband
dbv@bibliotheksverband.de deutscherbibliotheksverband
Editors Printed by
Kristin Bäßler Kössinger AG, Schierling
Kathrin Hartmann
Barbara Schleihagen Images
Anne Wellingerhof dbv/Thomas Meyer/Ostkreuz
in: Luckenwalde library
Design
mor-design.de ISSN: 2195-2531
⟶ German Version
Bericht zur Lage der Bibliotheken 2019/2020
www.bibliotheksverband.de/dbv/publikationen
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