Library

The library is one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive collections of scholarly publications systematically dedicated to the art and cultural history of Italy. It distinguishes itself from most institutional libraries of the Max Planck Society through its dual mission: to provide optimal access to academic resources for in-house researchers in accordance with Max Planck principles while also fulfilling its role as one of the world’s leading research libraries in the field of art history. This dual role is rooted in the founding charter and the 1953 German-Italian Cultural Agreement, signed by Adenauer and De Gasperi.

Initiated in the late 19th century through the extensive acquisitions of Henriette Hertz, the library now holds over 360,000 volumes. Its collection ranges from rare incunabula to born-digital publications. Unlike comparable collections in major state and university libraries, the Bibliotheca Hertziana’s holdings are distinguished by their systematic open-shelf organization. This allows both in-house members and external users direct, individual access to carefully pre-sorted specialized literature – a critical prerequisite for focused academic work.

A reference librarian, who is present during opening hours, provides professional assistance to both in-house researchers and visitors for all bibliographic inquiries, including online support. The library’s consistently high level of usage by an international audience underscores its enduring relevance, which remains undiminished in the digital age and which guarantees its place among the top-tier, non-university resources for research.