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The research library collects literature from the humanities and social sciences on and about East Central Europe in both East- and West-European languages. The collection area covers the political, cultural, academic and social history of the current states of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as the historical eastern territories of Germany and the German settlement areas in East Central Europe.
The research library is supported by the German Research Association (DFG) amongst others, within the scope of a program for supporting specialist libraries of national importance.
There are currently holdings of around 410,000 volumes, including around 1,830 current periodicals. The collection has gained a particular profile through its systematic collection of older literature (18th to early 20th century), including rare books, as well as extensive holdings of literature that is difficult to procure (so-called grey literature).

Use

• Application to use the research library
• The catalogue facilities of the research library
• Information on literature research
• Classification and Index of the research library
  
• Searching for literature by region and subject matter (guided search)
  
• Personal and geographical register of the research library
• Acquisition proposal for the research library of the Herder Institute

• Directory of abbreviations on East Central European contemporary history
  
• Classification and Index of the press cuttings collection
• Biographical materials on contemporary history (archive of persons in the press cuttings collection)

Services

• Contact
• Local and inter-library lending
• Research commissions
• Copying and reproduction orders
• Rules on costs and payments