The library collects literature on public international law and foreign public law from all over the world and in all languages. The library has the status of a United Nations Depository Library since 1949 and is also a European Documentation Centre of the European Union.

With a multi-lingual collection gathered from throughout the world, the library is a “Central Legal Library”, and possesses a comprehensive collection covering international commercial law, international private law and foreign civil law.

The Library of the Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity is a specialized library with a focus on religious studies, anthropology, political science and sociology. The library does not participate in interlibrary loans but serves as a reference library to provide literature and information, mainly to the members of the Institute.

The Max Planck Institute is among the founders of the Munich Max Planck Campus for Legal and Economic Research

The Max Planck Institutes are founders of Munich Max Planck Campus for Legal and Economic Research