Central Library of Defence in Brussels

The Central Library of Defence (APBD) was founded in 1831 after a few agreements between Belgium and the Netherlands. It received the name Bibliothèque du dépôt de la guerre de Belgique. The library was entrusted with the documentary information and from the beginning it was closely related to the Cabinet, therefore under a direct control of the Minister of Defence. Between 1945 and 1976 the library was settled in Brussels, in the Prince Albert quarter, and in 1976 it changed its location to Evere, situated in Reine Elisabeth district. In 1989 Florent Peeters, Professor Doctor of the State University of Kent donated his private collection (approximately 9,000 books) to the library. Since June 1996, APBD is automated with modern software.

The library contains books, but it has also a large supply of videos, CD-rom and DVD. All collection is divided into two categories: fiction and non-fiction. The last category includes materials about military sciences, information sciences, social sciences, computer sciences, International relations, International affairs, History and other themes.

The information desk of the library is made up of three posts: information, bibliographic research and public relations. If you wish to make copies from bibliographies, reference books or magazines, you will need a copying card that can be obtained in the reading room. In the circulation room 6 computers are available to search through the library catalogue. The CD ROM platform gives the possibility to consult miscellaneous CD ROMS of journal articles, references, juridical databases and specified military information. These CD ROMS are not available on loan.