Privacy Policy

At a glance

The Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) attaches great importance to the protection and security of personal data. In doing so, we comply with the relevant provisions of data protection laws, in particular the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the German Telecommunications and Telemedia Data Protection Act (TTDSG).

In the following, we would like to inform you about the use of your data when visiting our websites and inform you about your options as well as your rights under the data protection laws.

General notes and mandatory information

Data controller

Responsible party for the processing of your data is:

Max Planck Digital Library
Landsberger Straße 346
80687 München

Phone: +49 89 909 311-0
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

as institution of the registered association

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
Hofgartenstr. 8
80539 Munich, Germany
(hereinafter referred to as Max Planck Society)
Registry of associations no. VR 13378 B
Competent county court: Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg

Data protection officer (DPO)

The data protection officer of the Max Planck Society can be reached by email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone: +49 89 2108-1554.

Description and scope of data processing

Provision of the website and log files

Each time you visit our website, our system (the web server) automatically collects information from the system of your calling computer or terminal.

The following data is collected by us:

• Type, used version and language of the browser
• Operating system and user interface of the device
• Internet service provider (ISP)
• IP address
• Date and time of access
• Time zone difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• previous website from which the user reached our website (referrer URL)

a) Purpose of data processing

The temporary storage of this data by our system is necessary to enable delivery of the website to your device. For this purpose, in particular the IP address of the used device must necessarily remain stored for the duration of the session. The storage of the above data in so-called log files is done to ensure the functionality of our website. In addition, we use this data to optimize the website and to ensure the security of our information technology systems (e.g. for attack detection).

b) Legal basis

The legal basis for the temporary storage of the data and the log files is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests of us as website operators in the secure, trouble-free and legally compliant provision of the website).

c) Duration of storage

The above data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required to achieve the purpose for which they were collected. In the case of the collection of data for the provision of the website, this is the case when the respective session has ended.

In the case of storage of data in log files, this is the case after 14 days at the latest. Storage beyond this period is possible. In this case, the IP address of the user is deleted or alienated by us, so that an assignment of the calling client is no longer possible and the data contained no longer have any personal reference.

Session cookies

In order to guarantee certain functions in some areas of our websites, it is technically necessary to use so-called session cookies. These are data records (character strings) that are temporarily stored on your terminal device.

a) Purpose of data processing

The purpose of setting session cookies is to recognize a calling browser even after a page change. The data is not used to enable an analysis of the behavior of users.

b) Legal basis

The legal basis for the storage of session cookies is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR in conjunction with § 25 (2) No. 2 TTDSG (our legitimate interest in providing certain functions on our websites).

c) Duration of storage

Session cookies are deleted again when the browser is closed.

Email

We can be contacted via the email addresses provided. In this case, the personal data of the sender transmitted with the request (in any case, the e-mail address) will be stored together with the content of the message.

a) Purpose of data processing

The processing of this personal data serves us to process the content of the communication.

b) Legal basis

The legal basis for the processing of this data, which is transmitted in the course of sending an inquiry, is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate, similar interest of us as the controlling party in communicating with the person transmitting the message).

If the request is aimed at the conclusion or fulfillment of a contract, the legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR (fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures for this).

c) Duration of storage

The above data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required to achieve the purpose for which they were collected. For personal data sent via e-mail, this is the case when the respective conversation with the user has ended. As a rule, the conversation is ended when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the relevant facts have been conclusively clarified. In the case of the preparation or execution of contracts, longer retention periods may result from legal (e.g. tax law) requirements.

d) Right to object

As a user, you have the possibility at any time to object to the data processing with effect for the future on one of the contact channels mentioned under section II. 1.
In this case, all personal data stored in the course of contacting us will be deleted immediately, unless there are legal retention periods or other legal reasons to the contrary.

Analysis of our website (Matomo)

We use the open source web analytics service Matomo (formerly Piwik).

a) Purpose of data processing

We use Matomo to analyse the use of our website and to make regular improvements. The statistics obtained enable us to optimise our offer and make it more interesting for you as a user.

Each time our website is accessed, our system collects the following data and information from the computer system of the accessing computer:

- IP address, anonymised by shortening
- Two cookies to distinguish between different visitors (pk_id and pk_sess)
- Previously visited URL (referrer), if transmitted by the browser
- Name and version of the operating system
- Name, version and language setting of the browser

Additionally, if JavaScript is enabled

- URLs visited on this website
- Time of page views
- Type of HTML requests
- Screen resolution and colour depth
- Techniques and formats supported by the browser (e.g. cookies, Java, Flash, PDF)

The data is stored and analysed exclusively on a central server operated by the MPG.

Only anonymised data is stored and used with Matomo technology.
The IP addresses are anonymised immediately after processing and before they are stored. They do not allow identification of visitors to this website. As a matter of principle, your data will not be passed on to third parties. Matomo uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie in the pseudonymous user profile is not used to personally identify the visitor to a website and is not merged with personal data about the bearer of the pseudonym.

b) Legal basis

The legal basis for the use of Matomo is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (your consent, which you have declared via our consent banner). You can revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future.

c) Duration of storage

The data is usually stored for 30 days and deleted after the final annual totals have been calculated for the access statistics.

d) Revocation of consent

Of course, you have the possibility to revoke your consent to this data collection with effect for the future. Data that has already been lawfully collected up to the time of revocation of consent is not affected by this.

You have the following option to prevent data collection by the central server:

- Activate the "Do-Not-Track" or "Do not follow" setting in your browser. As long as this setting is active, our central Matomo server will not store any data from you. Important: The Do-Not-Track statement usually only applies to the one device and browser in which you activate the setting. If you use several devices/browsers, you must activate Do-Not-Track separately for each.

Your rights

According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right:

- to request information about your personal data processed by us pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR. This includes, among other things, the processing purposes, the categories of personal data, the categories of recipients of the data, the planned storage period, the origin of your data, as well as about the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling;

- pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR, to request the correction of incorrect or completion of your personal data stored by us

- pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR, to request the erasure of your personal data stored by us, unless the processing is necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims

- in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data if you dispute the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful and you refuse the erasure of your data, as well as in cases where we no longer need your data but you need it to enforce legal claims. Restriction of processing will also be carried out if you have objected to the processing but it has not yet been determined whether our legitimate interests override yours

- pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request that it be transferred to another controller

- in accordance with Art. 7 (3) GDPR, to revoke any consent given to us at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation

- PURSUANT TO ART. 21 GDPR THE RIGHT TO OBJECT
If the data processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data at any time for reasons arising from your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. The respective legal basis on which processing is based can be found in this privacy policy. If you object, we will no longer process your personal data concerned unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves the purpose of asserting, exercising or defending legal claims (objection under Article 21(1) GDPR)

If your personal data is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling, insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for the purpose of direct marketing (objection pursuant to Art. 21 (2) GDPR)

- complain to a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR. If you believe that we have not sufficiently complied with your rights and our obligations under data protection laws, you have the right to lodge a complaint with any data protection authority in the European Union.

Equal opportunities at the MPDL

Max Planck Digital Library cares about equal opportunities and an increasing compatibility of family and work.

While working in small teams we aim at cooperating respectfully and appreciative. It is, therefore, a matter of course for us to ensure both gender balance as well as the equality of all employee regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, age disability, and sexual orientation.

In order to facilitate the compatibility of family and work, we especially focus on flexible working and part-time models. We are proud of having achieved a share of female employees of nearly 60%.

The Max Planck-wide offer of pme Familienservice supporting employees with child and family care can be used by all MPDL employees.

Contact

Katrin Gashi

Equal opportunities officer

Max Planck Digital Library, München

E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terms of Service of the Max Planck Digital Library

General

General Terms of Service apply to services provided by Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) on behalf of Max Planck Society. Please be aware that enhanced Terms of Services may take effect for specific services. Please check the particular service websites for further information.

By using a service of the MPDL, users enter into a binding agreement to accept the Terms of Service described herein and agree to be bound by them. Users who do not agree to these Terms of Service please refrain from using services of the MPDL.

Users represent that they have the legal authority to accept these Terms.

Registration

Uploading content to MPDL services may require user’s registration. By registering, user agrees to only provide true and accurate information about herself. Personal data that is entered in the registration process is used only for authorization purposes and will not be given to third parties unless required by law.

User access may be revoked on violation of the Terms of Service.

User´s Warranty

If a user uploads content into a Max Planck Digital Libraries service, she warrants that

• content provided by her and made available through the service does not violate or infringe the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other personal or proprietary rights
• she owns or otherwise controls all rights required for submitting the content to a specific service

If a user publishes content through a Max Planck Digital Library service, she warrants that content is unencumbered by third-party rights and the relevant data protection provisions are respected. In particular, datasets that contain individual-level data (for example survey data) is anonymized in such a way that the identification of individuals is excluded (de facto anonymity).

General Conduct

User shall not in any form

• interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the sites and services or any related activity
• bypass any measures that may be used to prevent or restrict access to the sites or services
• run auto-responders or “spam” on the sites or services
• upload any illegal content, especially, but not limited to, any content, which can be deemed as extremist, racism and/or any sexual explicit content. Such illegal content is not protected by a possible confidentiality of the MPDL services and will be disclosed to the law enforcement authorities for further investigation
• upload any viruses or any code of destructive nature

Liability / Responsibility

• User bears the sole responsibility for its activity in connection with the service.
• MPDL does not make any warranties about content made accessible through a service. Under no circumstances is MPDL responsible or liable in any way for any content, including but not limited to: its accuracy, copyright compliance, legality or decency, completeness, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any content made available via the services.
• User releases MPDL from all liability in connection with the acquisition of content through the services.
• User is liable for damage arising from third-party use in connection with the privileges of access and use accorded to her if she approves such third-party use, particularly in the event of divulging her user identification and password to third parties.
• User shall exonerate MPDL from all claims if any such are made on MPDL by third parties because of the user's improper or unlawful conduct to obtain damages, or restraining orders, or for any other purpose. MPDL will explain the dispute to the user insofar as third parties take legal action against MPDL.

Operation

No warranty is given that

• Services will be secure and operate without fault and at all times without interruption. Possible data losses due to technical defects and divulging of confidential data through unauthorized access by third parties cannot be ruled out
• Defects or errors will be corrected
• Using a service will meet specific requirements
• Submissions are free of viruses or other harmful components

Use of service is solely at user’s risk.

Indemnification

To the extent authorized by law, user agree to indemnify and hold harmless MPDL services from and against any and all claims arising out of users's violation of the terms.

Miscellaneous

This Terms of Service agreement shall be construed, governed, interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this agreement shall be settled by good faith negotiations within a reasonable period. If the parties are unable to settle claims or controversies under this agreement, the enforcement or interpretation hereof, or any alleged breach or default under the provisions hereof, such claims or controversies shall exclusively be settled by the court competent for the registered office of the Max Planck Society.

Heinz Nixdorf Center for Information Management (ZIM)

It was generous support from the Heinz Nixdorf Foundation that laid the foundation for the establishment of the MPDL as a hub for information management. From 2001 to 2006, the Heinz Nixdorf Center for Information Management (ZIM) conducted a series of innovative projects building the key infrastructures and tools for managing scientific information within the Max Planck Society. These initiatives linked existing activities at the time and helped develop some of the key areas which still form an integral part of the MPDL's work today.

Projects

Max Planck eDoc Server - institutional repository of the Max Planck Society to provide open access to research results.

With the "Max Planck eDoc Server" the ZIM developed a platform for Max Planck Institutes to capture their intellectual output in digital form and to expose it through the World Wide Web to a worldwide audience. The eDoc Server implements internationally recognized, open metadata standards and interfaces. It aims to integrate this institutional digital archive carefully into a worldwide distributed network of scholarly digital collections and thus to increase the visibility of information resulting from research conducted at Max Planck Institutes. Since 2007, the MPDL developed PubMan, an improved repository software, which is part of the eSciDoc infrastructure (see below). The process of migrating publication data from the eDoc repository to the central installation MPG.PuRe of the PubMan software started in 2009. The MPG repository PuRe continuously grows since then.

eSciDoc - an integrated information and communication platform for the MPG.

A 5 year project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), eSciDoc forms an important component of the Max Planck Society wide information management program "sInfo". From 2004 to 2009, it established a sustainable infrastructure for scientific information, communication and distribution of research results via Open Access, using the example of the Max Planck Society. This joint project of the Max Planck Society and the FIZ Karlsruhe contributed components for the emerging global knowledge network by offering these to other interested communities as reusable solutions and is updated by various scientific partner organizations including NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science, Japan).

Living Reviews - extension of the editorial concept of the online journal Living Reviews in Relativity to other areas of research.

Living Reviews in Relativity was a pioneer open-access online journal project, which started operations in 1998. The Max Planck Institute of Gravitational Physics in Golm (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI) and the ZIM cooperated on the extension of the Living Reviews concept, aiming to make a significant contribution to the innovation of scholarly communication and knowledge exchange in the Internet era. The scope of activities ranged from providing core technical infrastructures and services for the production and management of Living Reviews journals to the development of open source publishing tools. Five further Living Reviews online journals have been set up since, with topics as diverse as Solar Physics, European Governance and Landscape Research.

Max Planck Virtual Library - integrated access to information resources for Max Planck researchers.

In addition to the above activities, the ZIM aimed to set up an information portal with a common search interface for distributed resources and a reference linking system which is sensitive to the Max Planck context. The provision of Max Planck online library catalogs, A&I databases and relevant web repositories was the starting point for a Virtual Library for Max Planck researchers. Today, the Max Planck Digital Library combines all of the above activities as a permanent service unit of the Max Planck Society and offers its members the widest range of academic online resources of any research institution in Europe.

Directions

By train

Follow the signs to the U4 or U5 underground heading for Arabellapark/Neuperlach Süd, and get off after 2 stops at ODEONSPLATZ. Walk north along Ludwigstraße and go left into Theresienstraße. At the corner of Theresienstraße and Amalienstraße No. 33 there is the MPI.

By plane

Munich Airport is situated about 40 km north of Munich at Erding. As taking a taxi will be expensive (about 60 Euro) and might take longer, using the Airport city train is recommended. Two local railway (S-Bahn) lines, S1 and S8, leave for Munich every ten minutes, taking you to MARIENPLATZ (the city centre) in about 35 minutes. Change here to U3 or U6 underground heading for Olympiazentrum or Fröttmaning/Garching Hochbrück, and get off after one stop at ODEONSPLATZ. Keep left on Ludwigstraße and walk north towards the Victory Arch (Siegestor) and after about 300 m turn left into Theresienstraße. The institute is at the corner of Theresienstraße/Amalienstraße no. 33.

By car

When approaching from the Autobahn Nürnberg, take the ring road (Mittlerer Ring) heading north. In north Munich turn into Leopoldstraße (Schwabing). After 3 km you will arrive at the Victory Arch (Siegestor).  After going straight on for another 600 m turn right into Theresienstraße. The institute is at the corner of Theresienstraße/Amalienstraße 33. Owing to heavy traffic and parking problems, however, it is advisable to use the Park & Ride system and public transportation (U3/U6 undergorund to ODEONSPLATZ).

Map

Mission

The Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) in Munich is a central institution of the Max Planck Society. It supports Max Planck Society (MPG) scientists from all 84 institutes with a broad service portfolio and provides easy access to data, scientific literature, commercial software licenses, scientific communication tools and services, and research-related software applications.

In the era of digital information, big data, the internet, and network-based collaboration, MPDL makes a substantial contribution to the Max‐Planck Society’s competitiveness in the international science community. It has a transformational influence on commercial product development and the scientific publications market which benefits the MPG and science in general. The MPDL combines its specialist knowledge, market influence, and products into a central service portfolio which, in conjunction with the Max Planck institutes’ local libraries and IT units, creates an optimized, cost-efficient working environment for MPG scientists.

The MPDL and its predecessors have featured as one of Europe's largest purchasers of scientific information for more than 15 years. It organizes access to a wide range of scientific databases and a wealth of open access publication services. Together with the local libraries, it makes sure that an excellent supply of scientific information and opportunities for publication is in place.

Since 2007, teams from the MPDL have played an active role in processing and supplying research data and research results from the Max Planck Institutes, now 84 in number. The MPDL has worked for many years with data collections from both the Max Planck Society and commercial sources, developing cyberinfrastructures and specialist applications for research data. It regularly combines data flows from hundreds and hundreds of different sources and performs ongoing analyses of usage statistics and constantly growing, complex data pools with entry volumes in the order of 10¹¹ or more. From 2018 onwards, the MPDL has also delivered the operational services of MPDL Services GmbH, which makes publication and access services relating to the major scientific publishers available to almost 1,000 German scientific institutes on behalf of the Alliance of Scientific Organisations in Germany under the “DEAL” label.

The MPDL is one of three central IT service units (MPDL, MPCDF, IKT) of the Max Planck society which, together with the institutes’ local IT departments, provide the entire portfolio of IT services for the MPG. Our goal is to create generic, optional, digital services which will be available to all Max Planck institutes and which complement the services of the local IT and to some extent research coordination units, as well as the local libraries. The MPDL eases the institutes’ workload in areas where it can extract synergies from similar needs of multiple institutes and offer very high quality, sustainable, immediately usable services.

Disclaimer

The following provides mandatory data concerning the provider of this website, obligations with regard to data protection, as well as other important legal references involving the Internet site of the Max Planck Digital Library www.mpdl.mpg.de as required by German law.

Provider

The provider of this Internet site within the legal meaning of the term is the registered association Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science e.V.

Address

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
Hofgartenstraße 8
80539 Munich
Germany
Telefon: +49 (89) 2108 - 0
Internet: www.mpg.de
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Register of Societies and Associations

The Max Planck Society is registered in the Official Register of Societies and Associations at Berlin-Charlottenburg Local Court under the register number VR 13378 B.

Representatives

The Max Planck Society is legally represented by its Board of Directors which, in turn, is represented by the President of the Society, Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer and by Secretary General, Dr. Simone Schwanitz.

Value added tax identification number

The value added tax identification number of the Max Planck Society is DE 129517720.

Editor

Responsible editor for the contents of the website of the Max Planck Digital Library with regard to media law:
Dr. Frank Sander
Head of the Max Planck Digital Library
Landsberger Straße 346
D-80687 Munich

Legal Structure

The Max Planck Society is a non-profit research facility which is organized as a registered association. All of the institutes and facilities of the Max Planck Society are largely autonomous in terms of organization and research, but as a rule have no legal capacity of their own. Foreign Language Pages To the extent that parts of this Internet site are offered in languages other than German, this represents a service exclusively for staff and guests of the Max Planck Society who are not proficient in German.

Liability for Contents of Online Information

As the provider of contents in accordance with Section 7 Paragraph 1 of the Tele-Media Law, the Max Planck Society shall be responsible for any contents which it makes available for use in accordance with general legal provisions. The Max Planck Society makes every effort to provide timely and accurate information on this Web site. Nevertheless, errors and inaccuracies cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, the Max Planck Society does not assume any liability for the relevance, accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided. The Max Planck Society shall not be liable for damage of a tangible or intangible nature caused directly or indirectly through the use or failure to use the information offered and/or through the use of faulty or incomplete information unless it is verifiably culpable of intent or gross negligence. The same shall apply to any downloadable software available free of charge. The Max Planck Society reserves the right to modify, supplement, or delete any or all of the information offered on its Internet site, or to temporarily or permanently cease publication thereof without prior and separate notification.

Links to Internet Sites of Third Parties

This Internet site includes links to external pages. These external links are designated as follows: [solid arrow]. References to the subordinate pages of this Internet site are designated as follows: [arrow].The respective provider shall be responsible for the contents of any linked external pages. In establishing the initial link, the Max Planck Society has reviewed the respective external content in order to determine whether such link entailed possible civil or criminal responsibility. However, a constant review of linked external pages is unreasonable without concrete reason to believe that a violation of the law may be involved. If the Max Planck Society determines such or it is pointed out by others that an external offer to which it is connected via a link entails civil or criminal responsibility, then the Max Planck Society will immediately eliminate any link to this offer. The Max Planck Society expressly dissociates itself from such contents.

Copyright

The layout, graphics employed and any other contents on the homepage of the Max Planck Society Internet site are protected by copyright law.

Design

form & glanz, Munich - Germany

© Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V., Munich. All rights reserved.

We want you!

As a family-friendly employer that attaches great importance to a good work-life balance, we follow the regulations of the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund) with regard to employment, payment and social benefits. This enables us to offer a range of convincing benefits, such as

• flexible working hours and working conditions (part-time, flexible time, possibility of mobile working)
• a crisis-proof job that is not dependent on general economic developments
• various social benefits and an additional pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL)
• A wide range of training and development opportunities, tailored to individual interests and skills
• company health promotion
• possibility to use a job ticket of the MVV (Munich public transport system)

We are regularly looking for new talented and committed employees. As we strive for gender equity and diversity, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. Applications from severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. We also warmly welcome career starters.

Open job advertisements for varied and responsible positions are published on our job market. However, we also welcome innovative visions of working and having a future with us! Therefore, we are always interested in convincing unsolicited applications, which can apply here.

We are looking forward to your application!

Job Market

Externally Funded Projects

Before December 2016

Completed projects

Before 31. August 2006

Founding contributions

Contact

Max Planck Digital Library

Landsberger Straße 346
D-80687 München
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 0
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MPDL Management

General Manager: Dr. Frank Sander
Office: Mona Lippmann
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 258
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MPDL Big Data Analytics

Head of Department: Margit Palzenberger
Office: Katrin Gashi
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 230
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MPDL Collections

Head of Department: Michael Franke
Office: Katrin Gashi
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 230
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DEAL Services

Head of Department: Inga Overkamp
Sekretariat: Khatia Mchedlishvili
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 214
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MPDL Digital Labs

Head of Department: Dr. Sandra Vengadasalam
Office: Sabine Baldewein
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 259
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MPDL Scientific Information Provision

Head of Department: Ádám Dér
Sekretariat: Khatia Mchedlishvili
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 214
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MPDL Software Licensing

Head of Department: Sonja Löffelmann-Sepahi
Office: Katrin Gashi
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 230
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MPDL Core Service Operations

Head of Department: Olivia Frank
Office: Eva Miklos
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 214
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MPDL Communications

Head of Department: Una Sokcevic
Office: Sabine Baldewein
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 259
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Office

Tel.: +49 (0) 89 909311 0

Advisory Board

The MPDL Advisory Board supports and advises the President, the accountable Vice Presidents, the Secretary General and the Max Planck Digital Library on the Max Planck Society's strategy relating to electronic scientific media and tools and the Society's open access policy.

The MPDL Advisory Board also forges a link between the Max Planck Digital Library and the sections, i.e. the institutes, and other involved units of the Max Planck Society. In addition, it is responsible for other tasks relating to the Max Planck Digital Library, including supporting and advising the Library on its ongoing duties and preparing reports on joint applications for central project financing by institutes and the Max Planck Digital Library.

The MPDL Advisory Board was appointed on June 17, 2010 by the Senate of the Max Planck Society. On January 1, 2012 it took its place within more than a decade of tradition represented by the Steering Committee of the Scientific Information Services Program of the Max Planck Society (LA sInfo, 2004-2011) and the preceding Advisory Committee on Information Provision (BI, 1999-2003). Among other duties, the MPDL Advisory Board now carries on the work of its predecessors.

November 2024

MPDL Advisory Board Members

Team

Organization

MPDL Big Data Analytics

The division MPDL Big Data Analytics studies the worldwide scientific publication process, underlying networks, and influential trends. Analysis, visualization, and reporting provide a comprehensive insight into the scientific publication landscape. Through integration and harmonization of numerous external data sources within the framework, the team prepares them for use in various scenarios. This includes creating publication profiles (overviews, statistics, networks) for Max Planck institutions, monitoring nationwide and global patterns (e.g. open access, publication channels, interdisciplinarity), and providing diverse support in license management (MPG-Literatur-Grundversorgung, MPDL Services gGmbH for the nationwide consortium DEAL). Efficient and highly automated processes and frameworks are developed and used for this purpose, which can be flexibly expanded to meet specific requirements of our stakeholders.

MPDL Collections

The Collections division of the MPDL operates a large number of productive, web-based software applications and services to support scientists in publication and research data management. Central to this are MPG.PuRe and Edmond, the institutional publication and data repositories of the Max Planck Society. Further focal points are the support of the Max Planck Institutes in research data management and Open Science.

DEAL Services

The DEAL Services division supports the MPDL Services gGmbH (MPDLS) in the efficient implementation of the German-wide DEAL contracts, which the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany has negotiated and offers to eligible institutions within the DEAL Consortium. The division’s tasks are geared towards achieving MPDLS’s goal to foster science and research in Germany by securing Open Access publishing services and access to scholarly and scientific literature. DEAL Services focuses on the management of the MPDLS’s signup agreements with currently more than 400 institutions by providing support services, planning and executing the invoicing process, as well as coordinating and managing various administrative processes with the respective publishers. These processes particularly concern open access publishing, including the verification and approval of publishing reports, and monitoring the progress of the DEAL contracts in regards to the open access transformation. Furthermore, DEAL Services works with various stakeholders, like libraries of universities and research institutions, for which the division provides information and communication resources, like the DEAL Consortium website, webinars, and a community platform.

MPDL Digital Labs

With its MPDL Digital Labs division, the MPDL supports the Max Planck Institutes with inventive tools for scientists, contemporary infrastructures, and information on new services. The mission of Digital Labs is to ensure a constant pipeline of new technologies to provide innovative and sustainable services for all Max Planck researchers. Contributing to the requirements of the constantly evolving scientific work environment, Digital Labs implements novel and sustainable tools for scientists within the MPG by evolving new ideas and technologies. With this unique approach, Digital Labs develops concepts, services, and initiatives, that allow user autonomy, encourage open exchange between scientists and help benefit scientific research. In particular, with the blockchain-initiative bloxberg – the first global scientific blockchain – Digital Labs aims to provide researchers with decentralized and autonomous services and to foster collaboration among the international scientific community. The development and use of innovative tools and infrastructures also ensure a huge competitive advantage for the MPG.

MPDL Scientific Information Provision

MPDL's Scientific Information Provision division supports all Max Planck researchers with a wide range of services related to the procurement, management and delivery of essential scientific literature in a seamless and efficient manner. Working in close collaboration with the libraries of the various Max Planck Institutes, the team provides Max Planck researchers with an excellent offering of journals, eBooks, databases, and other digital information tools through the MPG-wide licensing program ("Literatur-Grundversorgung"). The division concludes agreements with publishers and vendors, manages all licensed resources, and ensures easy access through MPDL's search and information retrieval interfaces. Based on a close analysis of the publishing preferences of Max Planck researchers, the team negotiates with scholarly publishers to enable MPG authors to publish their research open access in their preferred venues to gain the broadest possible visibility and readership for their research.

MPDL Software Licensing

The MPDL Software Licensing (SoLi) division is the point of contact for all questions concerning the basic supply of software and online services for the Max Planck Institutes and MPG facilities. SoLi provides central contracts for widely used software from science, IT infrastructure, and administration. The aims of the basic software supply are low-threshold use of software, minimization of local effort, and economic benefit for the entire MPG.
The SoLi team is responsible for all activities related to needs assessment, procurement, license management, and provision across all Max Planck Institutes. In addition to contacts with manufacturers and distributors, the communicative focus also includes close cooperation with technical experts from the Max Planck Institutes as well as regular exchange with a cross-section advisory commission. Via several transparent platforms and instruments that are also managed by Software Licensing, anyone interested in the MPG can find out about the constantly growing portfolio of the service and suggest missing products for inclusion in the basic software supply of the MPG.

MPDL Communications & Press

MPDL Communications & Press stands at the forefront of strategic communication and the innovative promotion of all MPDL's activities. Entrusted with a broad spectrum of external communication duties, the group ensures that MPDL's public engagements are professional and transparent. As the principal point of contact for media collaborations, the team manages traditional press and public relations, orchestrating partnerships with leading media outlets and innovative digital platforms. It is committed to articulating a consistent and engaging narrative that faithfully represents the core of the MPDL, its mission, and its future-oriented services and tools. In addition, the group is also responsible for overseeing all marketing activities for the MPDL, including developing and implementing marketing strategies that effectively convey the value and benefits of MPDL's offerings to a diverse audience. Through targeted campaigns, promotional materials, and events, the group works to enhance the visibility of MPDL's services and tools within the national and international scientific community and the general public.

MPDL Core Service Operations

With a primary focus on internal matters, MPDL Core Service Operations (CSO) provide a variety of central services within the MPDL, which enable employees to work efficiently and effectively. This service portfolio covers numerous areas, including financial and personnel administration, support for internal IT resources, system administration of web services, support for quality assurance and process optimization, as well as people development.
The acquisition of new, skilled team members for the MPDL is the focus of the division. CSO strives to find new people whose ideas will help to develop tools, services, and information infrastructures for shaping the future of science. It is the division’s goal to welcome new employees within the MPDL community and to foster them throughout their MPDL career. Various instruments and methods of human resource development, change management, diversity management, and (corporate) health management. The purpose of CSO is to strengthen the MPDL from within and thereby make an important contribution to the science community.

Alliances & Cooperations

DeSci Connect

The Max Planck Decentralized Science Initiative – DeSci Connect is dedicated to reshape the future of science by integrating Web3 paradigms into the scientific realm. By harnessing the power of blockchain technology, including cryptographic tokens (such as NFTs), decentralized governance, and self-sovereignty, Decentralized Science (DeSci) is transforming the landscape of scientific research and collaboration. The Max Planck Decentralized Science Initiative's ultimate goal is to create a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient scientific ecosystem for all. DeSci Germany is also part of DeSci Connect.

bloxberg - the first Global Blockchain for Science

The MPDL is the initiator of the first global blockchain initiative for science - bloxberg. bloxberg consists of a consortium of international, world-leading research institutions that aim to provide scientists with decentralized services and to foster collaborations among the global scientific community. The MPDL represents the Max Planck Society in the bloxberg consortium. Also, bloxberg has been mentioned in the blockchain strategy of the federal government (available in german) and in the Aktionspapier des Blockchain Bundesverband e.V. (available in german).

Contact: Sandra Vengadasalam & Friederike Kleinfercher

Info: bloxberg

Science Europe, European Science Foundation and German Council of Science and Humanities

In close cooperation with the Office of the President, the MPDL supports the positioning of the Max Planck Society in international councils and their working groups such as Science Europe, European Science Foundation or the  German Council of Science and Humanities.

Alliance Initiative Digital Information

MPDL is representing the Max Planck Society in the priority initiative "Digital Information" of the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany.

SCOAP3

MPDL is an actice supporter of the international Open Access initiative SCOAP3 and has currently taken on the role of chair of the Governing Council. Contact: Ralf Schimmer (MPDL)

ICOLC, GASCO und Knowledge Exchange

MPDL is representing the Max Planck Society in international alliances for licensing and utilizing scientific information such as ICOLC (International Coalition of Licensing Consortia), GASCO (German, Austrian and Swiss Consortia Organisation) und Knowledge Exchange.

DARIAH, CENDARI and RDA

MPDL is collaborating in major international infrastructure projects such as DARIAH and CENDARI. MPDL is also involved in the Research Data Alliance (RDA).

Berlin Open Access Community

MPDL supports the Open Access community building process that was initiated with the Berlin Declaration in 2003 by the President of the Max Planck Society.

DINI and KIM

MPDL is representing the Max Planck Society in the German alliances for networked information DINI and for metadata interoperability KIM.

Cooperations with Research Partners and Libraries

MPDL is engaged in a variety of close cooperations with partner institutions, among them SUB Göttingen, FIZ Karlsruhe, Uni Regensburg, TU Berlin, HU Berlin, GWDG, Verbundzentrale Göttingen, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld University Library.

International Network

MPDL is also building up a network of international partners and collaborations, including the National Science Library of the Chinese Acadamy of Science, PKP at Stanford University, or NIMS in Japan.

Publisher Contacts

MPDL is a strategic partner for publishers and information providers in their development of products and business models. In addition to frequent visits and feedback meetings, MPDL representatives frequently serve on the International Library Advisory Boards of major international publishers.

Open Science Days, PubMan Days, imeji Days

MPDL is the initiator and curator of the eScience conferences Open Science Days and PubMan Days, which attract international attendance.

History

2024

Grundversorgung now in place for 25 years.

Prof. Dr. Sibylle Günter, Vice President and Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics becomes the new Chairperson of the MPDL Advisory Board, replacing Prof. Dr. Gerard Meijer, Director of the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI).

2023

MPDL moves from the Amalienstraße 33 to the Landsberger Straße 346.

2020

Prof. Dr. Gerard Meijer, Director of the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI) of the Max Planck Society, becomes the new Chairperson of the MPDL Advisory Board, relplacing Vice President Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schüth.

2014

The MPDL Advisory Board receives a new Chairperson with the change in the Presidency of the Max Planck Society. Vice President Prof. Dr. Ferdi Schütt replaces Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Wolfgang Schön as Chairperson.

2012

The MPDL becomes a permanent service unit of the MPS.

2010

The MPS Senate passes a resolution on the permanent establishment of the MPDL, effective January 1, 2012.

At the same time, a governing body to be known as the "MPDL Advisory Board" is created to advise the President on strategic issues relating to electronic scientific media and working tools and the open access policy. Vice President Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Wolfgang Schön becomes the first Chairperson of the MPDL Advisory Board.

In November 2010, Dr. Frank Sander is appointed head of the Max Planck Digital Library, replacing the temporary management which had been in place since October 2008.

2009

Grundversorgung now in place for 10 years.

The MPDL is reviewed four times by an external professional advisory board, the VP Schön Committee, a group of IT directors and the Steering Committee of the Scientific Information Services program (LA sInfo), in each case with extremely positive results.

2008

Leadership of the MPDL passes from Dr. Laurent Romary to a temporary board chaired by Prof. Dr. Kurt Mehlhorn, scientific member of the MPI for Informatics.

2007

The MPDL is launched in January at Amalienstrasse 33, Munich, merging the working groups of ZIM, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research project eSciDoc and the Administrative Headquarters Electronic Library department.

2006

In September 2006, Dr. Laurent Romary is appointed head of the MPDL.

In March 2006, the Senate of the Max Planck Society passes a resolution to set up the MPDL, initially for a 5-year period (2007-2011).

2004

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research project eSciDoc is launched.

The activities needed for Grundversorgung (basic provision) are set up as the "Electronic Library" department at the Society's Administrative Headquarters.

2003

An open access strategy initiative of the Max Planck Society starts under the patronage of President Peter Gruss, with the Berlin Declaration and the Berlin Conference series.

2001

The Heinz-Nixdorf-Zentrum für Informationsmanagement (ZIM; Heinz Nixdorf Center for Information Management), based at the IPP in Garching, is set up as a project group at the MPS, with support from the Nixdorf-Stiftung.

1999

The Max Planck Society enters central electronic information provision: the sections pass a resolution to set up a "Solidarity Fund" on the basis of equal contributions from the institutes and give a mandate for the design of "Grundversorgung", a basic provision of scientific information for the Max Planck Society.

An international conference of experts is held at Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, on the question of what form the Max Planck Society's information management should take in the digital age.

Max Planck Digital Library

Digital information has become indispensable to the daily routine of every researcher, in fields from educational research to astrophysics, from coal research to chemical ecology. An article is downloaded every second, a new publication goes out every 10 minutes. Research data, delivered in highly organized form. It is MPDL's goal to enable and orchestrate this information flow for all Max Planck Society researchers.

MPDL has faced up to this enormous responsibility for over a decade. Based on the generous funding of the Heinz Nixdorf Foundation it became the Center of Information Management of the MPG. It owes its prestigious reputation to its tangible successes and wide diversity of services, as well as its unfailing readiness to address new challenges and projects and to add to and enhance the proven tool-kit of scientific information management.

The digital opportunities open to mankind and science double every 18 months. Through their expertise and dynamism, MPDL's employees contribute day on day to securing the Max Planck Society's position as a leader in international competition, now and in the future.

The wire in this website's design symbolizes the tension between the priorities of sustainable service and innovation as well as the underlying themes of information flow and agility.

Take a look around. We look forward to welcoming you and your inquiries.

Dr. Frank Sander
General Manager MPDL