Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer defended his position on the planned expansion of the German National Library in Leipzig in response to mounting criticism.
The federal government announced on Wednesday that a final review of the cost‑defining planning documents for a fifth expansion remains pending before the responsible federal construction authority. It also noted that long‑term financing has not yet been secured. Although a moratorium has been imposed, this does not mean the project is cancelled. Instead, it can be incorporated into the ongoing budget‑setting procedure, allowing parliamentary debate on the matter.
“We remain committed to the National Library as a repository of our written heritage and to its location in Leipzig” Weimer said. “At the same time, we intend to make greater use of digital solutions for carrying out its extensive collection mandate”. He added that the legal obligation must be adapted to the realities of the digital age, especially given the increasingly constrained funding available over the coming years. “Nonetheless” he assured, “we will continue to preserve comprehensive physical media collections”.
The proposed fifth extension in Leipzig, projected to cost more than €100 million, is intended to accommodate new acquisitions and older holdings that cannot yet be stored under adequate climate conditions. Construction is planned for 2027-2032. The announcement that the new building may not proceed has already triggered sharp criticism from the cultural sector and officials in Saxony.
