In Germany, there are more than 10.000 libraries. Decentralisation is having a marked effect on the libraries system – unlike in many other countries, there is no national libraries law in Germany, and certainly no central steering by a state or private institution. This situation has arisen for historical reasons, as the responsibility for cultural matters, academic life and art, as well as for education, is mainly the prerogative of the Länder. Our dossier presents outstanding and innovative German libraries – from Bavaria to Schleswig-Holstein.
