The Library of the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España 1 (Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute) is one of the most important libraries specialized in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Its collection, originated in 1990 after the merger of predecessor institutions, contains more than 50,000 publications, including books, exhibition catalogues, conference proceedings, and specialized journals. Its architectural design, 2 by architects Fernando Higueras and Antonio Miró, is a prominent example of brutalism, with a circular structure that integrates vegetation, and was inaugurated in 1990. Throughout its history, the library has maintained an approach prioritizing open access for both internal and external users, and offering services such as in-room consultation, internal loans, document reproduction, and specialized bibliographies. In recent years, its activity has grown, reflecting an expansion of services and staff. Among future projects are the digitization of collections, subscription to electronic journals, and integration of its catalogue into various national and international bibliographic networks, such as BCIN. 3 These efforts aim to solidify the library as a leading institution in cultural heritage documentation preservation and dissemination, adapting to modern trends in library science and user experience. This article is an adaptation of the communication presented at the 10 th International Conference of Art Libraries held in Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña (Barcelona, Spain) on October 3-5 th 2024.
Paula Sánchez García (Wed,) studied this question.