The basis for searches in WBIS Online is the World Biographical Index (WBI), representing a complete index to the 58 Biographical Archives, that are available in digitized format in WBIS Online.

Brockelmann Online consists of both original volumes Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur (GAL) by Carl Brockelmann (1868-1956), as well as the three supplement volumes, including the indexes. Brockelmann’s Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur offers bio-bibliographic information about works written in Arabic and their authors, with an emphasis on the classical period.

This online publication is the English translation of Brockelmann's famous Geschichte der Arabischen Litteratur (GAL). Brockelmann's work offers bio-bibliographic information about works written in Arabic and their authors, with an emphasis on the classical period. It is divided in chronologically organized sections, which are subdivided by literary genre. Individual entries typically consist of a biographical section and a list of the author’s works in manuscript and print, with references to secondary literature. Unlike the German original, the English translation spells out all the authors' names, which makes the translation much easier to consult. Minor errors in converted dates have also been corrected.

The Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopädie (DBE) [Dictionary of German Biography] provides information on roughly 62,000 individuals whose lives, works and achievements are considered remarkable to this very day. Reaching back as far as Charlemagne, the DBE covers individuals from all walks of public life who contributed to the cultural heritage of the German-speaking areas.