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The library’s extensive holding with alone 675.000 books consists of classical printed media of law literature as well as electronic media. Holding information can be retrieved at any time by using the Online Catalog (OPAC).
Additionally, the Max Planck Society in Munich provides members of the Institute with access to 140.000 E-Journals and 700.000 E-Books from all areas of science. The library gives preference to the Institute`s members of staff and provides them with literature of all kinds.
Researchers from all over the world are welcomed as guests and invited to use the services of the library. PhD students, students with academic interests related to the library’s holdings, as well as one-day visitors are allowed to use the library.
Since the end of 1949, the library holds the status of a United Nations Depository Library. It owns one of the most comprehensive collections of primary literature of the United Nations and its specialized agencies in Germany.
A European Documentation Center (EDZ) used to be a special unit in our library and part of the information network of the European Commission. Due to the electronic availability of most of the documents there was little need for the EDZ. This is why collection and cataloguing was concluded in 2014. Our old stock is still available in the library.
The 'European Organizations Department' collects documents of numerous European and International Organizations (i.e. European Council, NATO, OECD). Most of the publications are in print, some are available online as well.
The library is a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Spezialbibliotheken and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
Department |
TEL / FAX |
Head of Library |
Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 219 |
General Information / registration | Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 702 |
Interlibrary Loan | Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 546 |
United Nations Depository Library | Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 226 |
European Organizations (not EU) | Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 546 |
Book acquisition |
Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 212 |
Periodicals department | Tel.: +49 / 6221 / 482 - 433 |
The annual reports contain further information about the library and the development of our holdings. The annual reports are only available in German.