The new Library of the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria was inaugurated on 13 December 2017. Its history and origin are closely linked to the Civic Museum established back in 1882, which at the time was located in the ground floor rooms of the Archbishop’s Palace of Reggio Calabria. Initially, there was a small collection of books resulting from bequests and donations. Later, in 1932, with the construction of the National Museum in its current location, successive superintendents increased the number of books on classical archaeology in collaboration with the university library of Messina.
The library was in use by scholars and internal staff. It holds around 25,000 volumes dedicated to: ethnology, history of religions, mythology, excavation techniques, restoration, subsidiary sciences, cultural heritage, ceramics, Greek and Latin classics, corpus vasorum antiquorum, ancient architecture and topography, epigraphy, Greek and Roman institutions, philology, literature, Greek and Latin philosophy, Greece and the Mediterranean East, ancient history, Italy and the Roman West, medieval and modern art history, bibliographies, linguistics glottology, Magna Graecia, numismatics and metrology, propaedeutics, general works, iconography, prehistory, monographs and periodicals on painting and mosaics, Christian and medieval archaeology.
Rare and ancient books: sculpture, encyclopaedias and dictionaries of antiquity, minor arts, Egypt and the Orient, language dictionaries, conference proceedings, local publications, medieval and modern literature and history.
Also inside is the Barresi collection, consisting of 3190 volumes, including Greek and Latin classics and precious volumes, as unique copies in southern Italy.
Access to the library is free of charge by presenting proof of identity and filling out a registration form.
The reading room is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Contacts
Email: man-rc.biblioteca@cultura.gov.it

Library regulations:
https://www.museoarcheologicoreggiocalabria.it/file/2024/07/Regolamento-Biblioteca.pdf