We are the only English library in North Rhine-Westphalia with a selection of over 20,000 publications from classic to contemporary, run by an international team of volunteers. The purpose of our organisation is to foster a community around English books and culture. We believe that reading opens new doors!

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News from the International English Library

Vale Prof. Dr. Albert-Reiner Glaap OBE

*1st September 1929  -  ✝ 24th April 2023

Prof. Dr. Glaap had been a long-serving and active member of the International English Library’s Beirat (Advisory Board) since the association was first formed to take over stewardship from the VHS in the late 1990s. His extensive knowledge of English literature and theatre has been invaluable to us, and his charm, wit, and willingness to engage in our events and pursuits cannot be overstated. We will miss his contribution to our Library enormously and send our sincerest condolences to his family. Please find a detailed obituary detailing his life’s work on the Heinreich Heine University's website linked here.


Royal Visit Germany 2023! 


The International English Library was extremely honoured to be invited to the Festival of British & German Music, organised by the British Embassy to celebrate the end of Their Majesties' first State Visit to Germany. Our chairperson, Melanie Schuth, was introduced to Her Majesty The Queen, (then Queen Consort), who runs a popular online book club "The Queen's Reading Room", and they briefly discussed the perennial importance of literacy and literature.


Metropolitian Library Services
Oklahoma, USA
Our sister-library!


The IEL signs an MoU with
the International Women in Business Düsseldorf e.V

24th October 2023

IWIBIDUS are a dynamic network of professional expat women who for one reason or another have found themselves living in Düsseldorf.
The partnership agreement signed by IWIBDUS co-founder and chair, Katy Kennedy, and IEL chair, Melanie Schuth, will allow for greater mutual organisational support and a range of collaborative activities in the future. 


Official Partnership Agreement signed with Görres-Gymnasium 

October  2020 

Under the leadership of English teacher and chair of the IEL's Schools Sub-Committee,  Julia Strohmeyer, the two historical Dusseldorf organisations that have been working closely together for the past year and a half and have now formally ratified their partnership.
Read more about this Kooperationsvertrag on the Education Page of our website linked here.