Vatican Library

The Vatican Apostolic Library is the national library of Vatican City. It serves as the official library for the Holy See. This institution is one of the oldest libraries in the world. It holds a massive collection of historical texts used for deep research.

Scholars visit to study history, law, philosophy, science, and theology. The library is a vital center for understanding human knowledge through the ages.

The library functions as a specialized research facility. It is open to anyone who can document their professional qualifications and research needs. Researchers can request photocopies of certain books published between 1801 and 1990. The building is organized into specific functional areas. A papyrus room and manuscript storage are located in the semi-basement. The first floor contains a restoration laboratory for preserving old works. The second floor houses the photographic archives.

Historians divide the library's long history into five distinct periods. The first is the Pre-Lateran period from the early days of the Church. Next is the Lateran era, which lasted until the end of the 13th century. During this time, the library moved to the Lateran Palace. The third period is the Avignon period. This occurred when seven successive popes lived in Avignon, France. This era saw significant growth in book collections and record-keeping. The fourth period is the Pre-Vatican period from about 1370 to 1447. During this time, the collection was scattered across different locations. The final period is the Vatican period, which began when the library moved to its current home.

Several popes played key roles in developing the collection. In 1451, Pope Nicholas V envisioned a public library for Rome. He wanted to attract scholars and pilgrims to the city. Nicholas combined 350 Greek, Latin, and Hebrew codices with his own acquisitions. He even hired scholars to translate Greek classics into Latin. By 1455, his collection reached 1,200 books. Although Nicholas died in 1455, his successor Pope Sixtus IV formally established the library in 1475.

At that time, it was the largest book collection in the Western world. Later, Pope Sixtus V commissioned a new building in 1587. This building is still used by the library today.

The scale of the collection is truly massive. The library contains 75,000 codices, which are ancient manuscript books. It also holds 1.1 million printed books. This includes about 8,500 incunabula, which are books printed during the earliest days of the printing press. The library also keeps 330,000 Greek, Roman, and papal coins and medals. By 1992, the library had nearly 2 million catalogued items.

Every year, the collection grows by about 6,000 new books.

Library methods have changed significantly over the centuries. In the Renaissance, books were not kept on open shelves. Instead, they were stored in wooden benches with attached tables. To prevent theft, books were often chained to these benches. Access was also sometimes restricted due to religious conflicts. For example, during the Counter-Reformation, the Index of banned books limited access for some scholars. In 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte even seized the library's contents and moved them to Paris. They were eventually returned in 1817.

In the 20th century, the library underwent a major modernization. Between the two World Wars, Pope Pius XI began a revitalization project. At that time, the library lacked organization and trained staff. American organizations, such as the American Library Association, helped implement a modern cataloguing system. Vatican librarians even traveled to the United States to train at the Library of Congress. This international cooperation helped the library become one of the most modern in Europe. It also led to the 1929 founding of the International Federation of Library Associations. Today, the library uses digital tools and began a project in 2014 to make manuscripts available online.