Facts and figures about the ZBW

The ZBW is the world’s largest specialist library for economics. 

Figures of the ZBW (2022):

  • Holdings: 4.27 million books and other publications.
  • Number of current journal subscriptions: 25,107 titles.
  • Book acquisitions: 533,009.
  • Newly acquired working papers: 501,264. 
  • Number of titles in EconBiz: 11.9 million.
  • Number of documents in the repository EconStor: 245,000.
  • Number of staff: 270.
  • Seat: The ZBW has two branches, one on the Firth of Kiel, the other on the Binnenalster in Hamburg.
  • Legal form: foundation under public law.
  • Founding year: 1919.
  • Director: Professor Klaus Tochtermann
  • Financing: The ZBW is financed jointly by the federal and state governments.
  • Budget: 27.06 million EUR.
  • The ZBW is a member of the  Leibniz Association.