The library is a central and integral part of the Leibniz Research Institute for Archaeology. With a collection of currently around 180,000 media items and 2,000 journals (1,300 of which are ongoing), it is one of the largest and most important European specialist libraries on archaeology and cultural history of the ancient world.

The chronological focus of the collection ranges from the Paleolithic to the High Middle Ages. Special thematic areas include archaeology and natural sciences, China, ancient medical history, and Coptic textiles.

The LEIZA library is a reference library open to the public with open-shelf access. The media (journals, books, etc.) can only be viewed at workstations in the library rooms: borrowing is not possible.