Bibliothek und Information Deutschland (BID) e.V. (Library and Information in Germany - Federal Union of German Library Associations) is the umbrella organization of all institutional and personal members' associations of German librarianship. BID represents the joint interests of its members at national and European level, and on international committees.

Members

In addition to the three institutional and professional associations dbv, BIB and VDB members of BID include the Goethe Institute and the library suppliers ekz.

Library Congress

Every three years BID hosts the Library Congress in Leipzig, one of the largest professional conferences in Europe. The Congress has traditionally been held immediately before the Leipzig Book Fair in March.

The next Library Congress will take place in Leipzig from March 14th to 17th, 2022.
For further information please refer to the congress-website at www.bid-kongress-leipzig.de

Library Congress Leipzig

photo: 2016 / Jens Schlüter

International Activities

BID is a member of IFLA and at European level represents German libraries and library associations in EBLIDA. LIBER, NAPLE and the Anna Lindh Foundation are partners of BID.

BID's permanent commission BI-International (Library and Information International) promotes international professional exchange by means of a grants programme which enables foreign library and information specialists to participate in professional visits to Germany. Likewise it funds study tours and professional visits by German librarians to other countries.

Karl Preusker Medal

BID awards the annual Karl Preusker Medal (Karl-Preusker-Medaille) in memory of Karl Benjamin Preusker (1786-1871) who founded of the first German public library in Grossenhain near Dresden in the year 1828.
The medal is awarded to committed individuals or institutions in recognition of special services to German librarianship.

Last year's medal was awarded to Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. on November 18 th, 2020.

Karl Preusker Medal Front

photo: BID