1. SLUB Dresden
  2. Collections
  3. Media Library

Media Library

The Saxon State and University Library Dresden (SLUB) has an extensive collection of audiovisual media, which is kept in the Media Library (Mediathek). This collection includes more than 100,000 sound recordings and films from 1896 until now—everything from shellac records to Blu-ray discs.

In addition to industrially produced media that can be checked out, the Media Library also holds a great quantity of rare and unique sound and film recordings in all sorts of formats.
A selection of these historical recordings is made available to the public in the Digital Media Library.

Relaunch of the Digital Media Library (Digitale Mediathek)to top

The Digital Media Library (Digitale Mediathek) interface has undergone a graphic and structural overhaul. Relevance engine filters make it possible to refine your search for composers, interpreters, or filmmakers. A timeline navigation function makes it easier to search for sound recordings or films of a certain time period or a certain year. Search results from the SLUB catalogue are linked to the corresponding medium as well as to additional media, such as musical scores or secondary literature. For many sound and film files, there is even a link to download the item.

Themen in der Digitalen Mediathekto top

The Media Collectionto top

Central to the Media Library’s pursuits is collecting audiovisual media belonging to so-called Saxonica. In the area of music, the focus is on musical theater and exemplary interpretations of all musical genres, including international performers. The discipline of film is represented from its origins—all sorts of media are collected, from the first motion pictures up to contemporary documentary films dealing with historical topics, with contemporary art and the history of technology.

The Media Library’s collection contains—excluding multiple copies of the same title—approximately 5,000 DVDs, 15,000 VHS cassette tapes, 28,000 CDs, 35,000 LPs and 38,000 shellac discs, as well as many other sound recordings and films—most of which are rare, often unpublished and/or unique copies.

More than 13,000 audiovisual media are available for users in the Central Library, Level -1, open stacks.
All other media must be ordered via the SLUB catalogue.