Library for Research on Educational History

The Library for Research on Educational History, in german: The “Bibliothek für Bildungsgeschichtliche Forschung” (BBF), which was founded in 1876, is an international research library, which has been affiliated with the DIPF in 1992. With a collection of more than 700.000 items it is Europe's second largest library specialized in education.

By virtue of its unique collection, the BBF was integrated into the system set up by the "Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft" (DFG) comprising libraries with special collections. Its acquisitions cover works on the history of education in German-speaking countries, making it one of the 27 German libraries with a special collection or specialized libraries which, virtually, fulfil the role of a German national library.

The BBF collects German-language publications and all forms of electronic publications referring to educational history; it supplements retrospectively the collection of sources and secondary literature and serves as an archive for important institutions in educational history. Via publicly accessible and adapted internet databases it makes available archive and library collections. Furthermore, it is integrated into several supra-regional library groups. Particularly collections relevant for research are digitized and offered on-line for free use.

The BBF archives cover some 1,800 running meters. Apart from the collection of documents of important educational institutions and organizations – e.g. of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft” – it comprises numerous literary estates of pedagogues – e.g. of Friedrich Fröbel, Adolf Reichwein and Berthold Otto.

In addition to its library, documentation and archive functions, the library has gained recognition as a centre of communication for historical research in education, hosting regular conferences and exhibitions.

Finally, working closely with the other centers of the DIPF, the BBF makes it its business to promote research and carry out its own research projects. For example several projects editing the works of pedagogues are being conducted such as a computer edition of the complete work of. Adolf Reichwein as well as all Friedrich Fröbel`s correspondence.