WELCOME TO

Bibliothek & Information Deutschland
(BID) e.V.

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.

#Stand with Ukraine​

The Federal Union of German Library Associations (BID) condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We declare our solidarity with library personnel and libraries in Ukraine as well as with the Ukrainian library association.

We call on Russia to comply with the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its protocols.

Libraries in Ukraine are continuing to provide access to information even in the face of the tragic current situation and are thus upholding the right to critical, democratic, free and objective thinking and activities. They provide places of shelter and refuge for both children and adults. The Ukrainians did not wish this war upon themselves and yet every day the situation becomes more fraught for them; in circumstances such as these, the support given by those operating libraries requires considerable personal courage on their part. The German and international library community thus stands united behind its Ukrainian colleagues.

The associations that are part of BID and many libraries in Germany are organising programmes for the benefit of Ukraine. Libraries are offering grants and other financial aid to library staff who have fled the country. A dedicated section has been set up for our Ukrainian counterparts on openbibliojobs, an online portal advertising jobs in libraries, archives and related institutions. Libraries are assisting with the protection and transport of endangered cultural assets as well as the long-term archiving of digital data.

For an overview of current aid measures provided by libraries and their partners, please visit the website of the German Library Association (Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e. V, dbv) 

About the Federal Union of German Library Associations
(BID; Bibliothek & Information Deutschland e.V)

The Federal Union of German Library Associations (BID) is the umbrella organisation of institutional and professional associations in the library sector and of central institutions for the promotion of culture in Germany. BID represents their collective interests at the national and European level as well as in international committees.

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

The Dutch architect and creative guide Aat Vos was presented with the Karl Preusker Medal 2021 on 28 October in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. 

Press release Berlin, 20 September 2021

BID awards the annual Karl Preusker Medal (Karl-Preusker-Medaille) in memory of Karl Benjamin Preusker (1786-1871) who founded 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.

In 2021 the Karl Preusker Medal was redesigned by the sculptor Carsten Theumer.

Karl-Preusker-Medaille – Front (H. 125 mm)

Image: 2021 / Carsten Theumer

Karl-Preusker-Medaille – Reverse Side

Image: 2021 / Carsten Theumer

Library Congress

Every three years BID hosts the Library Congress in Leipzig, one of the largest professional conferences in Europe.

The 8th German Library Congress took place from 31 May to 2 June 2022 at the Congress Center Leipzig.

Under the motto #CreatingFreeSpaces the Congress was held as a face-to-face event with digital elements (livestream).

Members of BID

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.

Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e.V. (dbv)

Berufsverband Information Bibliothek e. V. (BIB)

Verein Deutscher Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekare e.V. (VDB)

Goethe-Institut e.V.

ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH (ekz)

President - Governing Board

http://www.bideutschland.de

President: Dr. Sabine Homilius ([email protected])
Vice-President: Dr. Ute Engelkenmeier
Vice-President: Volker Heller

Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Lorenzen

[email protected]

http://www.bibliotheksverband.de

Volker Heller
Hella Klauser
Marion Mattekat
Barbara Schleihagen
Prof. Robert Zepf

http://www.bib-info.de

Prof. Dr. Tom Becker
Dr. Ute Engelkenmeier
Sylvia Gladrow

http://www.vdb-online.org

Anke Berghaus-Sprengel
Dr. Klaus-Rainer Brintzinger

http://www.ekz.de

Johannes Neuer

https://www.goethe.de

Stefanie Kastner

Contact

Office: Executive Secretary

N. N.

Bibliothek und Information Deutschland (BID) e.V.
c/o Deutscher Bibliotheksverband

Fritschestr. 27-28
10585 Berlin

Phone: +49 (0) 30 644 98 99-20
Fax: +49 (0) 30 644 98 99 27
E-Mail: [email protected]