The tasks of a regional library relate to the collection and archiving of regional literature, its bibliographic cataloging, and its provision for use, regardless of content and form of publication.

The Mainz City Library collects all publications from publishers as well as so-called gray literature, which is published outside the book trade, as mandatory copies. The collection mainly comprises:

• Publications from publishers, universities, authorities, museums, societies, and self-publishers
• Daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, local newspapers, district newspapers
• Children's books, comics, music books and sheet music, travel guides, local history books, museum and exhibition catalogs
• Maps and city maps
• Publications from clubs, associations, schools, companies, and political parties
• Official publications

Literature published by publishers in Rhineland-Palatinate and official publications are delivered to libraries on the basis of § 3 (legal deposit law) and § 4 (official publications) of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Library Act of December 3, 2014.

Section 3 stipulates that one copy (deposit copy) of every printed work published in Rhineland-Palatinate (including texts in film and electronic form, recorded audio media, sheet music, maps and town plans, magazines and newspapers) must be delivered to the relevant library unsolicited and free of charge. Section 4 regulates this accordingly for official publications.

The associated state ordinance stipulates that publishers in the districts of Mainz-Bingen and Alzey-Worms, as well as in the independent cities of Mainz and Worms, must submit copies to the Mainz City Library. It also stipulates the submission of official documents. One copy of each publication in printed form issued by state authorities and agencies or a local authority must be delivered free of charge to the Mainz City Library, among others, immediately after publication. Media works in electronic form that are published in parallel with print editions or only in this form are delivered to the Rhineland-Palatinate State Library Center/Palatinate State Library in Speyer.

This legal obligation to deliver contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. In Germany, the state and regional libraries in the individual federal states – such as the Mainz City Library – and the German National Library in Frankfurt and Leipzig are responsible for this. They all ensure that the collection of works published in Germany is as complete as possible.

Contact
Friederike Luce
Phone: +49 6131 12-2653
friederike.lucestadt.mainzde

Please send your publications to
Libraries of the City of Mainz
Mainz City Library
Friederike Luce
Rheinallee 3 B
55116 Mainz

The Rhineland-Palatinate Bibliography is a regional literature documentation covering the area of the present-day federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In its function as the regional library for Mainz and Rheinhessen, the Scientific City Library is one of four cooperation partners involved in compiling the bibliography; it is responsible for the Rheinhessen region. Those interested in regional studies will find books and other media as well as essays in printed and electronic form. The Rhineland-Palatinate Bibliography lists publications on

• Places and regions in Rhineland-Palatinate
• people born and/or active in Rhineland-Palatinate
• all areas of life and fields of knowledge with content related to Rhineland-Palatinate

The bibliography is updated daily and is freely accessible as a database on the Internet at no cost. The Rhineland-Palatinate Bibliography is part of the Virtual German State Bibliography, which combines various state bibliographies in a web portal and thus references regional literature in Germany.

Contact
Angela Jörz
Phone: +49 6131 12-4396
angela.joerzstadt.mainzde