Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense

The National Braidense Library (Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense) is one of the 47 Italian State libraries. It depends upon the Directorate General for Libraries and Cultural Institutes (Direzione Generale per le Biblioteche, gli Istituti Culturali e il Diritto d'Autore) of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali).

Reader admission and registration

Admission to the Library is guaranteed to Italian and foreign readers who are at least 16 years old and who have not been banned from the Library with a specific expulsion measure.

In order to access the Library the reader must provide a valid identification document with photo and register for a Reader Pass (modulo di entrata).

Reading rooms and halls

The Library has four Reading Rooms (of which three are specialised), one Room for the catalogues, the distribution, the loan and the reproduction of the items and an Entrance Hall which can be accessed through the Steps of Honour (scalinata d'onore).
The Rooms can be granted for events (book presentations, conventions/conferences, promotional events, etc.).

Entrance Hall
Maria Teresa Hall
Catalogues Hall
Reading Room (Sala Teologica)
Research Reading Room
Manuscripts Reading Room (Sala Manzoniana)
Microfilm Reading Room (Sala Decentrata)
Grand Staircase

Off-site departments

The library has three off-site departments, which are devoted to special materials:

Mediateca Santa Teresa

The di Santa Teresa Mediatheque is the multimedia division, where it is possible to access digital resources fundamental for those who works in the field of information.

Ufficio Ricerca Fondi Musicali

The Office for the Research on Musical Sources, hosted by Milan Conservatory library, works as national music catalogue and gives information on musical items in Italy and abroad.

Castello di Vigevano

Dhe division iof Vigevano hosts the historical archives of the Braidense, the originals of the digitised periodicals, the entertaining literature and other materials.