A heritage available to the public
The Multimedia Library preserves and makes available to the public the entire library and archival heritage of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, promoting it through extensive outreach and educational activities.
Preserving the archives of the Accademia since 1877
The library was among the first structures established by the Academy following the Unification of Italy, when its activities expanded, leading to the first season of public concerts in 1895. Opened to the public in 1877, the library became the repository for editions, scores, manuscripts, tablatures, and librettos previously held in the academic archives.
This entire collection, further enriched throughout the 20th century with collections belonging to great performers, critics, and composers, is now available in the Multimedia Library, partially digitized and also accessible online via the dedicated portal.
Similarly, the Academy’s archives are available for consultation on-site and through online catalogs: the historical archive, which preserves documentation of the Academy’s life from 1651 to the present; the audiovisual archives; the ethnomusicology archives; the photographic archive; the press review; and the catalog of the art collection.
All these archives, which document the diverse activities of the Academy, are part of its historical heritage, which is continually updated with documentation related to today’s productions.
A new digital soul
The new Multimedia Library, inaugurated in 2005, was designed by Renzo Piano as part of the entire complex. The project took into account the increasing relevance and use of information technology and the wealth of multimedia resources preserved in the archives.
The Multimedia Library, therefore, is equipped with workstations for consulting computerized catalogs, for listening to and viewing digital documents, and an audio-video laboratory, alongside traditional reading stations and spaces for the private consultation of manuscripts and early editions.
The heritage held in the Multimedia Library is cataloged, studied, and promoted through exhibitions, lecture-concerts, conferences, seminars, conventions, and educational activities, along with the publication of books, CDs, DVDs, and multimedia products. These are intended both to disseminate musical culture to a wider audience and to deepen scientific research conducted in the musical and musicological fields, particularly regarding the heritage it preserves.
Opening Hours and contacts
The entrance to the Multimedia Library is located just as you enter the cavea of the Auditorium, right after the Notebook. (Largo Luciano Berio 3 – Roma)
Access to the Multimedia Library is free (Monday to Friday, 11:00 am – 4:45 pm).
An appointment is required only for consulting rare books, manuscripts, and archival material.
Starting May 4, 2026, the opening hours will be as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
For more information:
bibliomediateca@santacecilia.it
+39 06 802 42332
http://bibliomediateca.santacecilia.it