Registration – Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin

The ZLB (Berlin Central & Regional Library) is a member of the Association of Public Libraries in Berlin (VÖBB). The VÖBB website (www.voebb.de) also enables you to access your library account.

You may borrow e-books, e-audio, e-papers and other e-media at voebb.de/digitale-angebote.

While you are able to visit the ZLB and use many of its services without a library card, you will need one if you want to take materials home and/or use our advanced services. To get a card, it’s best to go directly to the ZLB or use one of Berlin’s other public libraries. This page contains more information on this.

We have four kinds of card available to meet your needs:

This card entitles you to use our full range of serviceswhich includes:

Borrowing 60 items per district at a time
Possibility of borrowing and returning materials from/to all VÖBB libraries (NB: additional costs involved VÖBB delivery service)
Requesting interlibrary loans (NB: additional costs involved)
Use of PC work stations
Use of databases on site and through VÖBB
Use of our digital resources through voebb.de/digitale-angebote

A reading room card allows you to request ZLB materials from restricted-access areas (stack and external stack) to be brought into the public areas. You can also use our PC work stations.

Are you an institution/schoolafter-school care clubkindergartencrèche etc.? Then you can request a card for specific staff and departments.

Please read our information sheet here.

Since September 82015refugees without an official registration certificate or residence permit (i.e. newcomers) can receive a library card.

This library card is valid for three months in the ZLB and in all public libraries in Berlin. If necessarythe card can be extended by a further three months.

For the library card to be issuedthe residence permit or the accommodation certificate from the reception center (accommodation certificate) must be presented.
Children and young people under the age of 18 also require an informalwritten declaration of consent from a parent or guardian or a caregiver. (a written permission by parent or responsible person)

The library card is free of charge. Overdraft fees are not charged. Other special lending conditions apply:

A maximum of 10 media can be borrowed per district
E-books and other e-media can be borrowed from voebb.de/digitale-angebote
The applicable fees are to be paid for transport and provision
Interlibrary loan orders are not possible

Place of issue

You can have a library card issued to you during opening hours in the registration and borrowing areas of both ZLB branches, as well as in every other affiliated library of the VÖBB.

Validity

All cards are valid for one year after the issue date.

Documents required

All types of cards require you to bring a personal identification card or passport and an official confirmation of residence (except for the reading room card, which does not require a registration address in Germany)

Adults are registered on site without filling in forms.

Registration for institutions

All types of cards require you to bring a personal identification card or passport and an official confirmation of resideIn order to register an institution, the person applying for the card must bring their personal identification card or passpor their official confirmation of residence. They must also fill out the corresponding registration form.

Costs

Different fees are charged depending on card type. We offer discounts on annual cards for certain groups of people (students, children etc.).

Relevant proof must be provided at the time of registration in order to obtain a discounted card. Late provision of proof or payment of fees will not be accepted!

Fees are based on the latest Usage and fee regulations for public libraries in the Federal State of Berlin (BÖBB).

Note:
You may only use your card once the card fee has been paid. When extending your card, you may only continue to use if once all relevant costs have been paid.

Card type	Fee
Reading room card	Free
Annual card for:
People over 18 years of age	10,00 Euros
Trainees, university students, people performing basic military service or alternative service, people participating in a social or environmental volunteering gap year, people participating in the European youth leaders’ volunteering scheme, members of an association sponsoring a public library or the ZLB Foundation	5,00 Euros
Recipients of government aid allowances (“Arbeitslosengeld I and II” unemployment benefits, social welfare, basic benefits) with appropriate proof of “Berlin-Ticket S”/“Berechtigungsnachweis” or benefits notice.	Free
Children, and school students holding a “Schülerausweis I” student ID	Free
Institution card for:
Schools, after-school care clubs, kindergartens, crèches, etc. and similar establishments	Free
Legal entities	60,00 Euros
Legal entities and authorities as defined by Section 2 of the General Jurisdictions Act (AZG)	Free

Replacement card

In order to issue a replacement card, we need a valid personal identification card or passport as well as an official confirmation of residence. A replacement card is subject to a fee of 2.50 Euros.

Extension of card

Please ask on site!

Change of adress

Have you moved? Please notify us of your change of address as soon as possible so that our communications will reach you.

Fon +49 30 90226-116 /-401
Mail info@zlb.de

Registration / My account

Types of card