Search Tips for Getting Started

What can you find in the German Digital Library?

Digitized and digital cultural heritage from German museums, libraries, archives... [more]

⇾What can you not find in the German Digital Library?

The German Digital Library is not a streaming service or a media library. You will not find modern fiction and non-fiction, current feature films, current music or radio programs, the latest "Tatort" or computer games here. [more]

⇾ Is use of the German Digital Library free of charge?

Yes!

 

1. How do I search in the German Digital Library?

1. Click on the search bar
2. Enter search term (optional)
3. Mark „✅“ „Digitized objects only“
4. Click on „🔎“ in the search bar, or press „⏎“

2. Open digital copies

1. click on the hit
2. Intermediate step: You will now be taken to a preview page for your hit
3. Intermediate step: click on the link symbol to the digital copy on the left
4. You will be redirected to the website of the digitized material

3. Narrow down the search (filter)

Too many hits?

1. Click on the desired filter
2. Select filter in the drop-down menu
3. Click on "Add filter"
4. New hit list appears

Tipp: Tip: Combine filters with each other to obtain particularly precise results!

Detailed description of all filter and search options: [Link]

 

Overview: What can be found in the German Digital Library?

- the German Digital Library mainly contains cultural heritage from German museums, libraries, archives etc.:

Cultural heritage institutions in Germany - i.e. museums, libraries, archives, etc. - digitize their collections and make them available for use via the German Digital Library. The German Digital Library can be used free of charge and without registration. [back to top]

Overview: What cannot be found in the German Digital Library?

- Cultural heritage that has not yet been digitized by museums, libraries, archives, etc.

Important to know: The Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek portal is not an online library from which you can borrow media, but a "cultural search engine" with which you can search and use digital copies of German cultural heritage institutions. [back to top]