Automated book transportation system in one of the world’s most famous library buildings
State Library “Unter den Linden” Berlin
The state library “Unter den Linden” in Berlin is one of the most famous library buildings of the world. The library was built between 1903 and 1914. Until 1945 it was home to the Prussian State Library and the University Library as well as the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Between 2005 and 2020 the state library “Unter den Linden” was extensively renovated and supplemented with new buildings and a general reading room for news. The building was equipped with new IT systems, a book transport system and air conditioning for magazines. This makes the library a place for information and communication. The book transport system was implemented as part of a consortium led by Telelift.
The system transports the books from a total of 80 sending and receiving stations, mainly located in the magazine areas, to four reading rooms. There are 540 transport containers in use. A web-based visualization allows the staff to monitor the transports at any time. The transport solution relieves the staff of strenuous and time-consuming transport tasks, allowing them to concentrate on library tasks.
The library was reopened in a digital ceremony on January 25, 2021.