About FES Library

The special collection of the Library of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung supports research activities on the national and international level with its unique collection of relevant primary and secondary literature. The Library's major collection on the German social democratic movement thoroughly documents its history from the first formation of socialist workers' associations up to the most recent trends and developments. This collection is complemented by acquisitions that examine movements and trends in other selected countries, especially focusing on international trade union and political left-wing organizations. The collection additionally includes scientific literature on German and international social history. With a huge collection of both printed and digital 'grey literature' from German and international political parties (mainly centre-left and general left-wing) and trade union organizations the FES Library serves as a documentation centre for political research.

Another focus of the Library's work is the collection and long-term preservation of all printed and digital publications of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The FES Library maintains the central repository for all FES publications irrespective of its place of publication. All FES publications are listed in the annual bibliography Bibliographie der Veröffentlichungen, though all titles are also indexed in the Library's main catalogue. More information on this collection and on the range of FES publications can be found in the Digital Library section.

The FES Library participates in the library network "Kooperativer Bibliotheksverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV)". Its holdings are indexed in the joint union catalogue of the KOBV and the Bavarian Library Network. In addition, all titles can be found in the Karlsruher Virtueller Katalog (KVK), a meta search engine for books and periodicals in many different libraries. Finally, our collection is searchable in WorldCat, the world's largest network of library content and services. Almost all our holdings can be accessed through national and international interlibrary loan (unique identifier for our library (ISIL):DE-Bo133).

More information on the Library's history is available in these publications (only in German language):

• "Und erbitten wir einen ersten Bericht bis zum Ende des Jahres:
  Die Hilfe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft beim Aufbau der Bibliothek der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung"
  von Rüdiger Zimmermann
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• in: "Das gedruckte Gedächtnis der Arbeiterbewegung:
  Festschrift zum 30-jährigen Bestehen der Bibliothek der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung"
  Open publication
• Das gedruckte Gedächtnis der Arbeiterbewegung bewahren : die Geschichte der Bibliotheken der deutschen Sozialdemokratie / von Rüdiger Zimmermann. - 3., erw. Aufl.. - Bonn : Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2008
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• "Die Bibliothek der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung"
  von Rüdiger Zimmermann
  Open document