October 2025

The Heinrich-Böll-Bibliothek is one of eight public libraries in the Pankow district of Berlin. During the GDR period, this area was considered a kind of political center. Altogether, there are about 80 libraries in the Berlin public library system, known as the Verbund der Öffentlichen Bibliotheken Berlins (VÖBB), serving a metropolis of approximately 3.8 million inhabitants. The library is named after the author Heinrich Böll (born in Cologne in 1917), who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1972 and was an active member of the literary organization PEN. Spread over two floors, the library is in a rather plain apartment building close to public transport. Unfortunately, there is only a lift available on request, and the stairs are quite steep. The atmosphere inside is casual and welcoming, inviting all kinds of visitors. The collection includes both print materials (such as magazines and newspapers) and online resources. The library also offers various activities and a small “library of things.” As an example in October 2025, during Banned Books Week, there was an interesting exhibition featuring banned books, along with several related events. There is an annual fee of 10 euros for adult borrowers. THREE stars: Good