Legal library

Video: The legal library with historical collections

The legal library of the Federal Administrative Court is among the larger of its kind in Germany. It is primarily intended to provide services to members of the Court. The library ensures availability of the specialist literature they require for their day-to-day work. The library's remit also includes maintaining and caring for the Federal Administrative Court's large inventory of valuable historical books, manuscripts and other works of historical interest. Moreover, the library supports other courts and authorities within the context of mutual assistance. The library is also open to external users by appointment.

Library resources

The library of the Federal Administrative Court comprises about 240,000 volumes, including the historical works. Approximately 2,400 volumes are added each year. Moreover, there are legal databases and further online resources. The collection of the former Higher Administrative Court of Prussia and the Oberlandeskulturgericht (Prussian authority for land law matters) created the basis for the library, which was founded in 1953. Additional collections, especially sections of the Imperial Court of Justice library, were added after the German reunification Historical collections of the legal library

Staff

Eleven members of staff are employed in the library. In addition to the head of the library and two heads of division, there are four specialists for media and information services as well as four employees for scanning services, stack maintenance, and the updating of loose-leaf publications. Moreover, the library regularly offers three positions for apprentices.

Remit and Area of Collection

The library serves to provide the judges of the Federal Administrative Court with literature and information. Furthermore, the library takes care of the unique legal-historical collections as cultural heritage. The library mainly purchases German literature on administrative and constitutional law, as well as on the law of the European Union. For other fields of law, first and foremost standard commentaries are acquired.

Online Catalogue

The resources of the Federal Administrative Court library, including the majority of its historical sections, are listed in the court's online catalogue. The works can also be researched in the online catalogue of the K10plus. The 16th and 17th centuries' collections have not yet completely been referenced there, however.