Collections
Knowledge is cultural property. We own a comprehensive historical collection of printed literature of national and international importance, as well as manuscripts, archival materials, maps, microforms, and digital media. The main focus is, for example, the responsibility for the 18th century (‘Sammlung Deutscher Drucke’), but also for thematically specialized collections (e. g. subject-specific collections of printed holdings and digital data in subject information services). As a contribution to the preservation of cultural assets, the maintenance of these collections and the development of new collections are among the library's essential obligations.
In building collections, we are guided by specific research, teaching, and learning needs. This includes the targeted acquisition of worldwide literature for the research and teaching activities of scholars at the University of Göttingen, as well as the collection of publications, research data and bequests from scholars at the University of Göttingen. Further focal points of the collection are publications of the Göttingen (scientific) publishing houses as well as regional literature of Southern Lower Saxony and the neighboring regions.
We make all collections, especially rare or unique collections, accessible to national and international science - locally, nationally or in digital form.