One of the most centrally located and popular Potsdam cultural and educational facilities is the Potsdam City and State Library. Its building is part of the ensemble of cultural and academic facilities surrounding the Alten and Neuen Markt - the Old and New Market - squares. The library also maintains branch libraries in the Waldstadt, Am Stern and Babelsberg residential quarters. With its books, journals, CDs, videos and records, program of readings, lectures, and guided tours, the library enables all residents of Potsdam and the State of Brandenburg to have access to knowledge for a lifetime of learning and communication.
In addition, there are a number of specialized libraries in Potsdam. That includes relatively small libraries - for example, the library of the Moses Mendelssohn center for European-Jewish studies (app. 10,000 books) - and facilities with a very extensive stock of items, such as the Library of the Military History Research Office (app. 230,000 books).
Each university and technical college also has its own library. The Potsdam University Library, which has the largest stock of scientific media in the State of Brandenburg, the library of the Konrad Wolf Technical College for Film and Television, which is one of the most advanced in Europe in terms of its construction and design, and the library of the Potsdam Technical College, a highly-integrated service facility in the Technical College, are also open to use by members of the public and not limited to students or employees of the institutions.
Because of the many government ministries in the state capital of Potsdam, there are also several libraries from the authorities located here: the libraries of the State Administration for Data Processing and Statistics, of Earth Sciences and Resources, the library of the Brandenburg State Environmental Office, a library at the Ministry for Labor, Social Affairs, Health, and Women, and another at the Ministry for Urban Development, Housing, and Transport.
