The recently established library acquired its current specialization in the fields of conservation and restoration as a consequence of both the disastrous flood of 1966 and the merging of the laboratories of the Fortezza da Basso and the Opificio's headquarters in via degli Alfani. Reflecting its special nature, notable sectors of the library include: technical and scientific aspects of art conservation; chemistry, physics and biology as applied to art restoration; theses awarded by the Scuola di Alta Formazione in Restauro; marble, mosaics, and semi-precious stone; minor arts; art techniques; and art history references.
The library is composed of ca. 14,000 titles, of which 300 are theses awarded by the Scuola di Alta Formazione in Restauro, and 150 are journals. In addition, the library has created ca. 13,000 in-analytics from congress proceedings and journals specialized in art conservation and restoration.
In addition to the services of the library the institute makes available at its headquarters in Via degli Alfani its Restoration Archives and Historical Archives, representing unique resources of their type.