Use of the Library

Opening hours of the reading hall

• Monday to Friday, 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Public holidays and limited use

Since December 2025, due to deacidification measures, some holdings in the L/LL signature group will be partially closed. Please check before your visit whether the holdings you require are affected.

For the use of the collections of the German Literature Archive the following is to be considered:

• Media and collections, which cannot be consulted in the reading room of archive or library (among other things, not categorized closed collections, images and objects, sound- and film-carrier), are excluded from using. Please contact us in time in case your research requires these media and collections.
• Holdings of the archives which are currently shown in exhibitions must be ordered at least two weeks in advance.

Targeted research - introduction to the online catalogue (OPAC) Kallias: 
Researching library and media documentation materials

In this online training course, you will receive a sound overview of the various search options in the OPAC as well as research options for persons, topics, titles, collections and estates of the library. In addition, we will give you tips on targeted searches within collections and according to provenance characteristics. Information on availability times and the use of materials in the reading room of the library will conclude the event.

The training is aimed at all interested parties. We look forward to your participation and ask you to register in advance at: bibliothek@dla-marbach.de 

Next date: 3 March at 11 am
Duration: approx. 50 minutes

The dates of OPAC training sessions offered by the Manuscripts Department can be found here.

Loans

Registered users have the opportunity to submit prior reservation requests via the online catalogue. Prior reservations should be made preferably one week before the date of the visit at the DLA.

Please note that orders from the external stacks may have a longer delivery time of up to four weeks. Detailed information on this can be found directly in the online catalogue.

Fees

The library holdings are available free of charge for research-based, literary and journalistic papers and studies.

There are fees for extra services, such as copies, photos, scans and their use. The informational PDF entitled »Reproduction and Usage Fees« lists the current prices of copies, photos and usage fees as well as conditions for the use of images.

Carrels

To a limited extent, lockable cubicles (»carrels«) are available for users throughout the duration of their stay.

Services

In addition to the comprehensive introduction found in the informational materials on site, the library of the German Literature Archive offers a variety of services:

• Bibliographic lists: Lists pertaining to thematic and objective inquiries on literature and literary studies will be assembled via the Kallías database upon request. The bibliographic lists are sent by mail or by e-mail.
• Direct dispatch of copies within Germany: Articles from journals and anthologies can be requested as copies for a fee, provided this is possible from a conservation and legal perspective.
• Interlibrary services: Users have the option to order literature not found in Marbach via interlibrary services from other libraries for use in the Marbach reading hall.
• Users must give prior notice at the front desk of the reading hall or by e-mail for use of the authors’ libraries, the scholars’ libraries and other special collections.

Use of media documentation materials takes place in the library reading hall.

Audiovisual materials (AV-materials)

Users must make an appointment prior to the use of AV-materials. Dedicated cubicles are available for users of AV-materials throughout the duration of their stay.