Research Facilities

The Academy also offers participants an unmatched range of facilities including an excellent Library containing over 135,000 volumes with particular strength in archaeology and art history, and extensive holdings in journals and serials. Almost all of the Library collection is on the open shelf, and seminar participants will have full access. Additionally the library is a member of URBS, an association of sixteen research libraries which maintains a common online catalog. Other assets to which seminar participants may request access are a rare book collection of items relevant to Academy fields of research and the photographic archive containing many vintage items with particular holdings in architecture.

The Academy Library has reopened this autumn after a full year’s renovation that has expanded stack and storage space and installed compact shelving for periodicals, provided excellent clear lighting in numerous work areas, wireless Internet access for those who bring their own laptop computers and air conditioning. A limited number of desktop computers, scanners and printers are available.

During most weekday hours a reference librarian will be available to assist with inquiries. The Academy librarian will, as in the past, consult with the Seminar directors in advance of the sessions to determine what reference materials and books are needed, and to arrange for access to the Photographic Archive. All books and articles that are required reading for the Seminar will be placed in a special reserve.

The Academy’s program associate will also be available to assist Seminar participants obtain special permissions that may be required for seminar fieldtrips, access to other libraries, and acquire passes (‘tessere’) to Italian state-run museums in Rome.