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The library system of the University of Heidelberg in numbers

Last updated: January 2025

Table

Number of libraries
(incl. the University Library and all branch libraries)
35
The University Library and eight branch and institutional libraries hold over 100,000 volumes.
Staff
175 positions

Table

University Library
3,3 million
Branch and institute libraries
2,9 million
total:
6.2 million
Print journal and newspaper subscriptions
4,912
Online journals in the university network
164,517
Databases in the university network
3,213
E-books in the university network
1,160,109
Documents offered on the university’s open access servers
171,545
Open access digital reproductions
10,503,257 pages online
Object and multimedia database
1,009,256 digital objects

Table

Holdings
(01.01.2026)

3.3 million volumes, including:

  • approx. 980,000 printed volumes (approx. 350,000 titles)
    as part of the library’s historical collection until 1900
  • approx. 501,000 nonbook materials
  • additionally approx. 6,900 manuscripts
  • approx. 1,800 incunabula
  • 110,600 autographs; collections of old maps, prints, drawings and photographs
  • 2,490 print journals and newspaper subscriptions
  • 164,517 e-journals
  • 3,213 databases
  • 1,160,109 e-books on the campus network
2025 acquisitions
  • approx. 29,000 books and journal volumes
  • approx. 170 nonbook media
  • approx. 239,000 digital media
Work and study spaces
  • 1,118 seats in the main library of which 131 are EDP stations equipped with PCs to work or conduct research
  • 400 seats in the main branch library of which 20 are EDP stations equipped with PCs to work or conduct research
  • University WIFI network
Number of active users of the libraries’ print and electronic holdings (last updated 01.01.2025)
approx. 45,500
Items circulated (in 2025)
approx. 568,000
Visitors (in 2025)
approx. 2 million
Number of times the e-library was accessed (in 2025)
approx. 102.9 million times, including 98.7 million accesses to open access resources on the in-house servers
DFG-supported publishing fund
funding for 1,375 Heidelberg publications in open access journals

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