The Library was born from smaller donated collections and has matured into the present collection of over 50,000 volumes of books published between the 16th and 21st centuries. About 500 new titles are added to the collection every year.
The collection gives particular focus to History of Art, English and Italian literature and language, History, Travel, The Grand Tour, and Music.
The Library has a valuable collection of rare books including many signed first editions. These are reference copies and may be consulted in the Library only.
New for Library Members from September 2009
The Grand Tour Digital Resource
An incomparable on-line resource of manuscript, visual and printed works developed by Adam Matthew Digital. Sources come from the Beinecke Library, the Paul Mellon Centre, the Chaney Library, the British Library, our own archive and others. The resource includes manuscripts of prominent figures, rare and essential printed sources, visual material including paintings and sketches of Italy and the Continent, and a searchable version of Ingamell's Dictionary of British and Irish Travellers in Italy, 1701-1800. www.grandtour.amdigital.co.uk The database is only accessible to British Institute Library members in the Library.
Guides to the collections
We are continually adding to these guides and would welcome any suggestions you might have for more guides.