Use of the Manuscripts

The use of the manuscripts reading room is only possible with prior appointment. Please register by email indicating date and time of arrival, expected length of stay and the topic of study.

Opening hours of the manuscript reading hall:

• Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Saturdays.
• Public holidays and limited use

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 the manuscripts or the 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 manuscripts which are currently shown in exhibitions must be ordered at least two weeks in advance.

Online catalogue (OPAC) Kallias -  
Introduction to manuscript research

In an online training course, we present various search options and research possibilities for materials in the Marbach manuscript collection. In addition, we provide information on the ordering process and how to use the collection. As handwritten materials are often subject to various copyrights and restrictions on use, we will address these issues in detail.

The training course is open to anyone interested. We look forward to your participation and kindly ask you to register in advance at:
auskunft-handschriften@dla-marbach.de   

Dates in 2026: 30 January / 17 April / 10 July / 16 October / each at 9 am
Duration: approx. 60 minutes

Fees

The holdings of the manuscripts 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.

Requests

Please fill out and attach a request for use to your reservation when you submit a written order for copies.

A request for publication permission must be filed in the case of publishing a complete text or quotes from archival materials at the DLA.

In the case of existing copyrights, written consent of the copyright holder must be obtained.

Services

• Answers to inquiries and researches in manuscript holdings.
• The processing of requests for working digitisations
  Paper copies and working digitisations are usually limited to a volume of 20 reproductions per working topic and year.
• Loans for external exhibits.