Umweltbundesamt
Click to enlargeThe Environmental Library is a resource for the UBA’s research, as well as for many external users. It has grown to become the largest environmental library in the German-speaking world.
UPDATED: 31 January 2023
As a countermeasure to the energy crisis, the library will have reduced heating at all locations during the winter months. Please keep this in mind the next time you visit and dress accordingly.
As part of the measures to contain the spread of the Corona virus, there are special opening hours at the three library locations. The access modalities can be found at the individual branches:
We returned to the regular opening hours in Dessau: Monday to Wednesday from 9 a. m. - 3.30 p. m., Thursday from 9 a. m. - 5 p. m. and Friday from 9 a. m. - 3 p. m.!
- Access for external library users: recommendation to wear an OP-mask, distance regulation (1.50 meter)
Berlin, tuesdays and thursdays from 9 a. m. - 12 a. m., wednesdays from 12 a. m. - 3 p. m. (and if necessary at additional times by telephone arrangement under 030 / 8903 5478 or via bibliothek [at] uba [dot] de)- Access for external library users: recommendation to wear an OP-mask, distance regulation (1.50 meter)
Bad Elster, tuesdays to thursdays from 9:30 a.m. - 12 a.m. and from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (and if necessary at additional times by telephone arrangement under 037437 / 7-6257 or via bibliothek [at] uba [dot] de)- Access for external library users: recommendation to wear an OP-mask, distance regulation (1.50 meter)
Please keep distance and follow the hygiene rules described in a separate notice when entering the libraries! Our electronic service is available continuously. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to be able to welcome you again soon at normal opening hours!
The largest environmental library in the German-speaking world, with branches in Dessau-Roßlau, Berlin and Bad Elster, contains more than 500,000 books, about 320,000 eBooks, more than 1,500 printed journals, about 30,000 ejournals and other sources of information.
The library is an open access library kept available for the needs of the UBA-employees. However, the books at each of the three branches are also available to and can be taken out by members of the general public.
The OPAC (Online-Public-Access-Catalogue) enables users to search the stock of the Federal Environment Agency's Library and to determine their availability and location. Registered users of the library can use the OPAC to manage their user account independently and renew, order or reserve borrowed media.
Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, closed
Tuesday, noon to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m.
Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
The UBA office building Berlin-Grunewald (Bismarckplatz) will remain closed until about 2025/26 due to renovation and modernization work. The address of the temporary accommodation, which will also temporarily house the Berlin branch of the Environmental Library, is:
City Campus
Umweltbundesamt
Haus 3, Eingang 3A
Buchholzweg 8
13627 Berlin, Germany
Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m.
New acquisitions, which can be borrowed via the German Interlibrary Loan or directly from the Environmental Library respectively viewed there:
Here you will find all Selected bibliographies of the Fachbibliothek Umwelt (Environmental Library) arranged alphabetically in German.
Articles or books published by UBA employees can be found in the library catalog (OPAC), citable and with all bibliographical references. For most of them the full text is also available as a PDF document. The publications sorted by years are now also available as PDF lists.
Here you will find final reports of research projects that are in the stock of the Environmental Library.
The library includes final reports of research projects, books and magazines.
Online publications Contact, service, stock and use (flyer only in German)
The library environment is a free reference library, whose stock is purchased and held ready for the employees of the Office for the requirements of the Federal Environmental Agency. The library is open also to the public.
Classification of the Environmental Library (partially in English) Personal user account (only in German)
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
