2018 Annual Report of the Library published

The collection of the Institute library climbed to a total of 552,641 media items in the past year. The 2018 Annual Report gives an overview of new acquisitions and presents the key findings from a comprehensive user survey. Additionally, the Report summarizes the topics, projects and developments central to 2018.

The library is the most important resource tool for the academic staff as well as the guests of the Institute. It stands as the largest specialized law library in Europe, featuring literature on foreign and international private law from approximately 200 different countries. In 2018 the library further expanded its holdings, acquiring more than 6,700 print publications. Moreover, the library’s E-book offerings were broadened and additional databank licenses were procured.

This past year, the library carried out for the first time a user survey among the staff of the Institute. A project group designed the survey with the aim of assessing satisfaction and ascertaining users’ wishes and suggestions for improvement. The results are summarized in the Annual Report.

With its "Retrocatalogization" project, the library staff is focusing on roughly 125,000 older titles found in the library. The project, which began in June 2018, will see the catalogue data for this older body of literature not only revised and completed but also supplemented with tables of contents.

Finally, the library remained a place of knowledge and scholarly exchange, with 33,542 borrowings and 957 visiting scholars from 51 countries welcomed by the library.

The 2018 Annual Report of the Library can be ordered by e-mail. Please contact Halsen@mpipriv.de.