Braidense Collections
The development of the Library has been based, in addition to the material from the compulsory deposit of printed books, on a number of substantial holdings that have shaped its physiognomy and are presented briefly in this section of the website.
In the beginning, acquisitions were selected with the idea of expanding the Library’s expertise by reflecting the encyclopedic ideal that characterized that period. From the end of the 18th century to the present, the Library has continued to enrich its holdings with new acquired or donated holdings aimed at maintaining the existing holdings and the subjects in which the Library wishes to specialize. The description of the collections in the Library turns out to be the simplest system for understanding the characteristics of its holdings. At present, only some fonds have maintained a topographical identity; others, on the other hand, have long since been dismembered in accordance with an organized placement according to logical or functional criteria.
More in-depth studies on the history of the Library and its collections can be found among its publications.
Happens in Braidense
Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense offers a rich panorama of events, lectures, presentations, conferences. Discover the calendar of our activities.
A Golden Thread (1900-1938)
The Prutscher collection of Viennese children's books at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense.
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Manzoni 1873-2023. The plague “horrible curse” between living and writing
On the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni's death, the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense celebrates his memory and the historical and cultural link with the city of Milan.
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