Legal information about the decorative image: © Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, Foto: Peter-Paul Weiler

About the Library

The IAI Library is one of the world's leading research libraries for Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal and their transregional entanglements. It provides its users in Germany and abroad with information and media from and about these regions in all forms with a focus on the social sciences, humanities and cultural studies. The main target group is researchers. The Library is also an attractive place to work and learn for all sections of society. As part of the digital transformation, the Library is setting new priorities in its collection activities and in access to and dissemination of information.

Acquiring and accessing media

Acquisitions are geared towards the needs of science and follow the e-preferred policy. However, many materials are still published exclusively in analog form and acquired by the Library. Information, media and research data are made available with the respective metadata. The Library performs an archiving function for digital and analog information and media.

Preserving cultural assets

The IAI sees its collections as part of the globally shared cultural heritage. The IAI assumes its responsibility to protect it both through measures to preserve the originals and through digitization to protect the collections.

Disseminating information

The Library offers modern, multilingual access to information and media. It provides free services both for on-site use and for remote access. Information provision and user communication are multilingual and use both digital and analog methods.

The library in numbers 2024

41.863: Borrowing
3.623: Registered users
1.231.524: Books (printed monographs)
4.113: Interlibrary loans
31.806: New acquisitions (books)
44.121: E-Books