1. Collections

The National Library’s collections

Under the Act of November 7, 1996 on Legal Deposit Copies, the National Library receives two copies of books and serials and other publications: newspapers, printed music, atlases, maps, ephemera, electronic publications, recorded sound and audiovisual documents. The Library receives 180,000 published items of various types yearly, including ca. 90 percent on legal deposit. The library also expands its collections by purchase, by gift and by exchange with other domestic and foreign libraries. The National Library holdings as of the end of 2008 (including duplicates) totalled over 8,704,000 registered items.

The National Library’s holdings in registered items:

• 2 565 098 Monographs
• 895 804 Serials
• 2 257 565 Ephemera
• 218 973 Librarianship & information science collection
• 27 198 Manuscripts
• 161 548 Early printed books
• 120 239 Printed music
• 485 770 Fine prints and drawings
• 121 234 Maps and atlases
• 126 092 Recorded sound and audiovisual documents
• 20 068 Electronic documents
• 268 005 Microfilms