The printed works
The Library has about 850,000 volumes and brochures. The original core of the collections consists of the library funds of the conventual libraries, which were received by the Municipality of Bologna after the suppression of the religious corporations; it has been constantly enriched over time by purchases and donations.
Among the monographs are worth mentioning about 2,500 editions of the 15th century (incunabula) about 15,000 editions of the 16th century ("Cinquecentine") and about 120,000 ancient books (up to 1830).
The periodicals section counts 7,500 publications, of which over 1,300 are ongoing.
CONSULTATION
The printed works and the periodicals must be requested in the Reading Room.
The printed rare books (in particular, the incunabula) can be consulted in the Manuscripts and Rare Books Hall.
The most recent issues of nearly 120 current periodicals can be consulted directly in the Emeroteca (Newspaper Library) that is placed in the Reference Room. The periodicals are excluded from the loan.