ICSD is the world’s largest database for fully identified inorganic crystal structures. It currently contains about 193,000 peer-reviewed data entries including their atomic coordinates. Updates are made twice a year (in spring and in fall) with data taken from scientific journals and other sources. Thanks to these many heterogeneous data sources the database has a wide coverage. ICSD is also updated retroactively. The oldest records date back to the year 1913 and contain information from publications by William Henry Bragg and his son.

The German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB) ‒ Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology and University Library is a central specialised library, responsible for operating the German National Library for technology, architecture, chemistry, information technology, mathematics and physics as well as the University Library for Leibniz Universität Hannover. As the world's largest specialised library in its fields, the library has excellent collections of technical and scientific specialist and research information.