Göttingen State and University Library, founded in 1734, was the first realisation of the idea of a modern research library. As early as the 18th century, the library began developing holdings of national and international importance, which were continuously maintained throughout its history. Based on these efforts, the library has taken on a variety of tasks at the local, regional, national, and international level.
With its current holdings of 7.7 million media units, Göttingen State and University Library ranks among the largest libraries in Germany.