Collection guidelines and holdings of the ZBW

The collection guidelines of the ZBW tell you which criteria we apply when purchasing literature. All holdings of the ZBW are recorded in the database ECONIS. If there is literature you miss in the holdings of the ZBW we will be glad to receive your acquisition suggestion.

Mission and collections of the ZBW

It is the mission of the ZBW to procure, index, archive and provide to the public literature and subject specific information in economics and business studies.

The ZBW acquires theoretical and empirical literature in economics and business studies. It also purchases all publications of neighbouring and ancillary sciences whose main focus is on economics. Literature of related disciplines such as teaching of economics and psychology of economics is also collected completely.

The collection emphases of the ZBW are part of the supraregional literature supply system of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Principles of collection structure and selection criteria

The ZBW acquires literature from all over the world. The decisive criterion for the selection of literature is the academic significance of the publication. Publications made in national languages are acquired, but in principle the ZBW prefers literature in German or English.

All literature in economics and economic theory published in Germany is purchased, and almost all literature published in the United States or the United Kingdom. Publications from other countries are purchased selectively.

German empirical and industry-specific publications, as well as those dealing with particular regions (if economically relevant) are collected completely. Publications from other countries are acquired selectively. Practical literature is acquired only in selection.

Collection emphases

One particular emphasis of the collection is on publications of international organisations. The ZBW collects all printed publications of the European Union (EU) and its organs. This also applies to the United Nations (UN) and its organisations, the OECD, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Another emphasis of the collection of the ZBW is to acquire all publications of the world’s leading business schools and economic research institutes.

Publishing types and formats

The ZBW procures all publications of its remit regardless of format, that is as printed matter, electronic resource or in microform. The acquisition of non-conventional, so-called “grey” literature is considered particulary important.