Library
The Germanic Studies Library, formerly the Library of the Institute of Germanic Studies, now part of the Senate House Libraries group, is devoted principally to German language and literature from their respective beginnings to the present day, and it has substantial collections of:
There are smaller collections on background subjects such as history, art, folklore, publishing and other Germanic languages. The holdings on German film and theatre history are more than just 'background', as is the 'Wende' collection. Works by philosophers are in general integrated with the literature sequences. Also collected are works relating to the history of German studies, above all in the United Kingdom, but also in the German-speaking countries and the USA. Titles include biographies and 'Festschriften' of important scholars, and general histories of Germanistik. Book holdings are supported by numerous archives of individual scholars and material collected by the Conference of University Teachers of German in Great Britain and Ireland and kept at the Institute.
In all areas, the Library has collected as many reference works as possible: bibliographies, encyclopedias, lexika, biographical dictionaries and so on. Many are available on open access. Works relating to a single author will be found with the books by that author.
The whole stock is for reference only; no books or journals may be borrowed, but photocopying facilities are available. Part of the collection is on open access, located on the fourth floor of the Senate House. Other titles can be ordered by telephone or in person at the main desk.
Online catalogue.
The Germanic Studies Library has now moved into the Senate House. Open-access sections are housed on the fourth floor of the South Block.