2006A&A...452..735S

Databases of observed stellar spectra are continuously being published and made publicly available, and the average number of stars per database is increasing. This paper reviews the current status. The Asiago Database of Spectroscopic Databases (ADSD) aims to provide a census of publicly available libraries of observed stellar spectra, to document their content and to homogenize their parameters for easier consultation and access. Refereed journals, conference proceedings and personal web pages have been searched for libraries of a given minimum size, properly documented and with data made publicly and directly accessible. A total of 294 databases (54 ultraviolet, 183 optical, 50 infrared and 7 combined) have been found to match the selection criteria and have been included in ADSD. They provide spectra of 16046 different stars in electronic or printed formats. A card for each library describes in a homogeneous way its aims, content, type of data, caveats, data download links, source paper, properties of included stars and more. A dedicated web page allows direct access to ADSD, plans future updates, and provides interrogation tools to search all the libraries matching given characteristics or including any given star.