The specialist and reference libraries of the individual museums/institutions at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin collectively make up a single system of libraries, in line with standards considered to constitute best professional practice. This system encompasses the entire stock of literature necessary for the museums/institutions to perform their respective functions, and is subdivided organizationally between the Kunstbibliothek and the remaining libraries.
In addition to overseeing the supply of literature to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, as a major specialist library, the Kunstbibliothek also acts as a nationwide public service. The individual museums/institutions at the Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin are responsible for the selection of publications held by their respective specialist and reference libraries. It is imperative that the library system is set up in such a way as to guarantee a single and unified archive system for the constituent library collections. It is the responsibility of the Kunstbibliothek to take the necessary organizational measures to ensure compliance with this requirement (quoted from the statutes of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin).
Alte Nationalgalerie
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Bodestraße 1–3
10178 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 266425820
E-Mail: auskunft.ab[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of 19th-century art and collection-related literature
Collection policy decider: Dr. Birigit Verwiebe
Collection areas: literature on the painting and sculpture of the 19th century
Holdings: approx. 35,000 volumes
Internal only, not for public use. Please contact the information desk of the Archäologische Bibliothek if the title you are looking for in Berlin is only available in the Alte Nationalgalerie’s library.
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: Alphabetical card catalogue; shelf catalogue
Ethnologisches Museum
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Arnimallee 27
14195 Berlin
Opening hours
Tuesday to Wednesday, 9 am to 4 pm, or by appointment. Please contact library staff in advance to organise a visit.
Library information desk
Phone: +49 30 8301280
E-Mail: em.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
U-Bahn U3 (Dahlem-Dorf)
Bus X11, X83 (Dahlem-Dorf); 101 (Limonenstraße); 110 (Domäne Dahlem)
Specialist library for museum-collection areas: Africa, American archaeology and ethnology, the Islamic Orient, East and North-East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Australia, and ethnomusicology
Collection policy decider: N.N.
Collection areas: literature on ethnology and remote regions
Holdings statistics: 105,000 volumes, 288 currently subscribed periodicals (as of 2011)
Historical book collections: 7,100 volumes. See detailed description in the ‘Handbuch der historischen Buchbestände in Deutschland, Österreich und Europa’
Reference library, reading room with 10 desks. Books must be requested in advance. Please reserve the material you would like to access two days before your visit by sending an email to dahlem.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de.
To do so, the following information is required:
Short title [Kurztitel] location [Standort] (e.g. HF-…), current location [Derzeitiger Standort] (you can find this under information [Anmerkungen]), along with the call number [Signatur].
Example:
Short title: Masken weltweit
Location: HF-E8
Current location: Ethnologisches Museum
Call number: LC 16000 2016 001.
Generally, your order should not include more than ten items.
For other queries, including questions about titles that do not appear in the database, please contact the library information service.
Before requesting items, please ensure that they are not available in other libraries in Berlin and Brandenburg. To do so, you can use online catalogues such as the KOBV or the Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue.
We ask that you request the material from these locations where possible.
Colour copier and book scanner
The OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin contains the entire holdings of the Ethnologisches Museum’s library
The archive of the Ethnologisches Museum is closed until further notice.
The Museum für Völkerkunde’s collection of historical files is scheduled to be digitised by 2024, as part of a DFG project. The goal of the DFG project ‘Digitisation of the Historical Archive of the Ethnologisches Museum – 1830–1947’ is to permanently secure the documents and to publish the digital versions via the Internet. A microfilm copy of the collection can be found in the Zentralarchiv of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and can be consulted there by appointment.
Contact the Zentralarchiv: za[at]smb.museum
Contact for substantive research inquiries: h.ortlieb[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Gemäldegalerie
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Stauffenbergstraße 40
10785 Berlin
Kunstbibliothek information desk
Phone: +49 30 266424141
E-Mail: auskunft.kb[@smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of European painting of the 13th to 18th century
Collection policy decider: Dr. Roberto Contini
Collection areas: literature on European painting of the 13th to 18th century
Holdings statistics: 13,000 volumes
Internal only, not for public use. Please contact the Kunstbibliothek information desk if the title you are looking for in Berlin is only available in the Gemäldegalerie’s library.
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: Alphabetical card catalogue; shelf catalogue
Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Invalidenstraße 50‑51
10557 Berlin
Kunstbibliothek information desk
Phone: +49 30 266424141
E-Mail: auskunft.kb[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Collection reference library of contemporary art and contemporary artists featured in the Marx, Marzona and Friedrich Christian Flick collections
Collection policy decider: Dr. Britta Schmitz
Collection areas: literature on contemporary art
Holdings: approx. 5000 volumes, 11 currently subscribed periodicals
Internal only, not for public use. Please contact the Kunstbibliothek information desk if the title you are looking for is only available in Berlin in the Hamburger Bahnhof’s library.
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Kunstgewerbemuseum
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Tiergartenstraße 6
10785 Berlin
Kunstbibliothek information desk
Phone: +49 30 266424141
E-Mail: auskunft.kb[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of the Kunstgewerbemuseum
Collection policy decider: Dr. Achim Stiegel
Collection areas: literature relating to the collection of European decorative art and design of all epochs from late antiquity onwards
Holdings statistics: approx. 19,000 volumes, 38 currently subscribed periodicals
Please order through the Kunstbibliothek, once provided, use will be in the reading room
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003) Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Kupferstichkabinett
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Matthäikirchplatz 8
10785 Berlin
Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday: 10 to 12 am and 1 to 4 pm.
Please make an appointment in advance if possible.
Johanna Lange
Phone: +49 30 266424240
E-Mail: J.Lange2[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference Library of the Kupferstichkabinett
Head of collection policy: TBD
Collection areas: Literature on the history of printmaking and the art of drawing from the Middle Ages to the present, and on the art of calligraphy and manuscript illumination
Collection statistics: approx. 31,000 volumes
Historical book collection: approx. 3,500 volumes, including 284 incunabula (part of the museum’s art collection)
Resources may only be used in the study room; reference library
Digital catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Museum Europäischer Kulturen
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Im Winkel 8
14195 Berlin
Opening hours
Monday to Thursday: 9 am to 1 pm. Other dates by arrangement. Visitors must register their attendance in advance (and receive confirmation).
Phone: +49 30 266426820
E-Mail: mek.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Underground U3 (Dahlem-Dorf)
Bus X 11, X 83 (Dahlem-Dorf); 101 (Limonenstraße); 110 (Domäne Dahlem)
Specialist library of the Museum Europäischer Kulturen
Collection policy decider: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Tietmeyer
Library management: Carola Kohler
Collection areas: Empirical cultural studies, cultural anthropology, cultural history, cultural heritage, material and non-material culture, everyday culture, especially regarding the topics of migration, cultural interconnections, diversity, rituals, popular prints, textile techniques/clothing
Holdings: c. 58,000 volumes, 161 currently subscribed periodicals
Reference library, reading room with 4 desks
Black-and-white photocopier
Electronic Catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired as of 2003), Common Union Catalogue (GVK), German Union Catalogue of Serials (ZDB)
Conventional Catalogues: Alphabetical card catalogues; systematic catalogues (for acquisitions until 2003)
Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Takustraße 40, 1. OG
14195 Berlin
Opening hours by appointment only
Thursday: 11 am to 5 pm
Phone: +49 30 8301280
E-Mail: dahlem.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library for the Collection of South, Southeast and Central-Asian Art at the Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Collection areas: literature on the art, archaeology, the religious and cultural history of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast and Central Asia from the 2nd century AD to the present day
Holdings statistics: approx. 19,000 volumes, 160 currently subscribed periodicals (as of late 2003)
Use only in exceptional cases and by appointment only, reference library, reading room with 3 desks
Current information: Due to the current pandemic situation, please address external order requests to dahlem.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de. Media can be viewed in the library reading room at the Ethnologisches Museum during library opening hours. Please order your media according to the conditions indictated there.
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: Alphabetical card catalogue
Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Takustraße 40; 3. OG
14195 Berlin
Opening times
By appointment
Phone: +49 30 8301280
E-Mail: dahlem.bib[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library for the Collection of East-Asian Art at the Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Collection policy decider: Uta Rahman-Steinert
Collection areas: literature on East-Asian art history, archaeology and decorative art
Holdings statistics: approx. 20,000 volumes, 102 currently subscribed periodicals (as of late 2003)
Use by appointment only, for researchers and scholars of East-Asian art, students of the history of East-Asian art, and members of the Gesellschaft für Ostasiatische Kunst. Exceptions sometimes made. Reference library with 3 reading desks.
Electronic catalogues:
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Museum für Islamische Kunst
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
(access via Archäologisches Zentrum)
Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 6
10117 Berlin
Opening times by appointment only
Monday to Thursday: 10 am to 4 pm
Friday: 10 am to 2 pm
Phone: +49 30 266425820
E-Mail: auskunft.ab[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of the Museum für Islamische Kunst
Collection policy decider: Dr. Martina Müller-Wiener
Collection areas: literature on art, the decorative arts, archaeology, architecture, and the cultural history of the Islamic world, from the 7th to 21st century, with a focus on the Near East, Iran and Central Asia
Holdings statistics: approx. 30,000 volumes, 57 currently subscribed periodicals
Use only in exceptional cases and by appointment only, reference library, reading room with 4 desks
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Münzkabinett
Bode-Museum
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 6
10117 Berlin
Opening times by appointment
Tuesday to Friday: 10 to 12 am and 12.30 to 4.30 pm
Natalie Osowski
Phone: +49 30 2664 5411
Reference library of numismatic-related literature
Collection policy decider: Dr. Johannes Eberhardt
Collection areas: literature on the history of coins and medals of all epochs and countries
Holdings statistics: approx. 20,000 volumes, 56 currently subscribed periodicals
Historical book collections: numerous important historical books are still missing as a result of the Second World War.
Use in the study room with 10 desks available, reference library
Catalogues
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired from 2003 onwards); interactive online catalogue of the Münzkabinett (includes Münzkabinett exhibits and an increasing number of examples from the museum’s collection of more than 540,000 objects.)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue
Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst
Bode-Museum
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Bodestraße 1–3
10178 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 266425820
E-Mail: auskunft.ab[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of the Skulpturensammlung
Collection policy decider: Dr. Volker Krahn
Collection areas: Literature on the history of European sculpture from the early Middle Ages to the late 18th century
Holdings statistics: approx. 9000 volumes, 7 currently subscribed periodicals
Internal only, not for public use. Please contact the information desk in the Archaeological Library if the title you are looking for in Berlin is only available in the Skulpturensammlung’s library.
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue; shelf catalogue
Institut für Museumsforschung
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
In der Halde 1
14195 Berlin
Opening times by appointment only
Please contact us beforehand by phone or e-mail.
Phone: +49 30 8301462
E-Mail: ifm-bibliothek[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
U-Bahn U3 (Podbielskiallee oder Dahlem-Dorf)
Bus: X83 (Dahlem-Dorf); 101 (Limonenstraße); 110 (Im Dol oder Drosselweg)
Specialist library for all museological interests
Collection policy decider: Dr. Patricia Rahemipour
Library manager: N. N.
Collection areas: museology, state cultural policy, museum guides, all topics of relevance to the museum as a public institution
Holdings statistics: approx. 35,000 volumes, approx. 90 currently subscribed periodicals (as of late 2017)
Reference library, 4 desks
Black-and-white photocopier, private laptop-use possible
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin; Datenbank-Infosystem, Zeitschriftendatenbank, Artdiscovery.net
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue (all items acquired before 2002 systematized according to RAK); shelf catalogue
Rathgen-Forschungslabor
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Schloßstraße 1a
14059 Berlin
Opening times by appointment only
Monday to Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
Phone: +49 30 266427120
E-Mail: rf[at]smb.spk-berlin.de
Reference library of the scientific institute responsible for the material analysis and preservation of cultural artefacts, conservation science, and object authenticity
Collection policy decider: Prof. Dr. Stefan Simon
Collection areas: scientific literature on material analysis and the conservation and restoration of artworks
Holdings statistics: 10,000 volumes, 46 currently subscribed periodicals
Use only in exceptional cases and by appointment only, reference library, reading room with 10 desks
Electronic catalogues: OPAC of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (contains titles acquired after 2003)
Traditional catalogues: alphabetical card catalogue; shelf catalogue