The Competence Network of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek

The Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek offers comprehensive access to digitized cultural heritage in Germany. It is supported by a competence network of important cultural and scientific institutions in all fields.

The competence network directs the creation and development of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library, DDB). The competence network is composed of public institutions with extensive experience and competence in the field of digitization. The network’s thirteen founding members were appointed in 2010 by mutual agreement with the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, associations of local authorities and the Federal Government. The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) is also a member. It has been crucially committed from the outset to building the competence network.

The competence network has three bodies: the General Meeting, the Board, and the Board of Trustees. The Board represents the competence network and the DDB to the outside world. The spokesman of the board is currently Hermann Parzinger, the president of the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz. The Board of Trustees is composed of representatives of the federal, state, and communal governments. It oversees the competence network and decides which new members may join the General Meeting.

The office of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek coordinates the activities of the competence network. It has been seated within the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz since 2011.