Library (Reading room)

Protected by Ganesha, the Hindu deity responsible for letters and scholarship, a very special “object” lies behind this unassuming glass door: the museum library. It is one of the largest libraries dedicated to ethnology in Germany and is indispensable for the museum’s scientific work. From its beginnings as a small collection of travel reports dating back as far as the 16th century, the library has grown to encompass some 90,000 volumes and approximately 100 current periodicals today. The literature gathered here boasts an impressive range, in both its subject matter and its multilingualism. Many of the library’s holdings are one-of-a-kind in Germany.

For visitors, the library is open Thursdays to Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.