To respond to the needs of the Council for literature, the SSC’s Information Service borrows or purchases books. When appropriate, borrowing a book is favoured over buying it. Purchases are made primarily in the case of recent publications that are not yet available for loan from a large library in Switzerland. The monographs acquired are catalogued in the catalogue of the Alexandria Library Network. 

The SSC’s Information Service is also the contact point for employees of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) who need to obtain documents. Applications are prepared and submitted using this form. The books acquired at SERI’s request are catalogued in the SSC’s collection.