It is a research library and the central repository for all Danish public libraries holding millions of items both in print and digital formats including sound and music recordings, videos, journals, books, patents, maps, prints and drawings.

[5] The state library was established by law in 1897 as one of the first attempts to decentralize the cultural monopoly of Copenhagen.

The Royal archivist Caspar Frederik Wegener had at the time of his death in 1893 the largest book collection Denmark.

[2] The state library started out in a building on Vester Allé 12 designed by Hack Kampmann for the purpose.

The building quickly proved too small, especially after the duties of being a university library was added in 1928.