Central Library

The central library at Couvenstraße 15 is a barrier-free facility. It is divided into different areas and consists of the children's library (KiBi), the youth library (youthfactory), the adult library with interlibrary loan and the music library.

On four levels you will find:

• Specialist literature, fiction and foreign-language literature
• Magazines and newspapers
• Online user catalogs and expert, friendly advice on all floors
• E-media lending
• Public Internet access, partly with Office programs for private use (with user card up to 4 hours/day free of charge)
• WLAN
• Collection of Aachen daily newspapers on microfilm from 1811 onwards (copies for private and scientific purposes possible - also as birthday copies)
  
  

Adult library

The adult library may be used from the age of 12. The learning aid media are aimed at pupils from grade 7.

Music library

The music library is all about music, dance and theater. Here you will find non-fiction books, biographies, sheet music, DVDs and CDs, as well as an e-piano that can be used free of charge and without registration.

There is also a music room with a concert grand piano. This can be reserved by the hour - exclusively for private practice. Experienced pianists who are in possession of a valid library card can use this free service during our opening hours.

Children's library (KiBi)

Our area for children up to 12 years

We have:

• Books, CDs, DVDs, console and board games, magazines and Tonies
• Two Nintendo Switch to play on site
• a play and picture book corner for small children
• special Internet access for children
• a corner for dressing up
• a baby changing room and a crawling corner for the very little ones

For educators and teachers, we also offer media packages to supplement educational work in daycare centers and schools. The media packages can be borrowed for 8 weeks with the free institution card .

youthfactory

The youthfactory offers 200 square meters of space and media for all teenagers and young people between the ages of 12 and 25.

We have:

• a PS5 area
• a pool table
• Books
• DVDs
• CDs
• Magazines
• Board games

Come along to chill out and meet friends.

Watch the video

Interlibrary loan

Books, sheet music, essays etc. that are not available in Aachen can be obtained from Germany and abroad via interlibrary loan. Orders can be placed at the Central Library or directly from home via the Digital Library. The delivery time for books is usually 10 - 15 days, for articles usually only a few days are necessary. Interlibrary loan advice is available in the Central Library on the 1st floor.

More

Historic old stock

• Literature about Aachen and the surrounding area
• Aachen daily newspapers from 1768 onwards (in the original and on microfilm)
• Manuscripts and prints from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century (including the Aachen Council Library and various 19th century scholars' libraries)
• (Manuscript and book) bequests (e.g. from Josef Ponten, Alfred von Reumont, Anton Wilhelm and Vinzenz Jakob von Zuccalmaglio, Ferdinande Freiin von Brackel)
• Today, the city library owns 14 - of the original 31 - medieval manuscripts. Three more are stored in the city archives, and fourteen have also been lost. The "Catalog of Medieval Manuscripts" and the "Catalog of Modern Manuscripts", which has not yet been completed, can be found in our literature and media directories. One of these manuscripts, the "Chronicon Sainense" (Ms. 96), a manuscript from the chancellery of the Counts of Sayn in Altenkirchen or Hachenburg (around 1490), can be found in the same place.
• Depository library of the Aachener Geschichtsverein

To the Handbook of Historical Book Collections