The holdings comprise approx. 50,000 volumes and 100 serials, 75 of which are journals. A large part of the literature is currently not freely accessible. Important study literature is purchased in 1-3 copies and is currently offered at chairs and in the reading room of the UB. There are small handbooks at the chairs. Most e-journals and subject databases are jointly licensed with other academic libraries.
The foundation for the Economics Library was laid on 12.4.1872 with the donation of 1,435 volumes from Prof. Carl Hoffmann's private library. It is thus one of the oldest economics libraries in Germany. On 22.6.1875, a Department of Political Science was established, which was still called "Hoffmann'sche Bibliothek" until 1885. Until 1964 the library was housed in the Neue Aula, from 1923 in the Silcher Wing. After that, it moved into temporary barracks at Brunnenstraße 27. In 1971, the seminar library was able to move into the former IDUNA building at Mohlstr. 36. As the reference library of the Department of Economics, it is also open to external visitors.
