Library

The MNAD library is currently open to visitors by appointment only, from Monday to Friday in the morning.

Applications must be made in advance by writing to the following e-mail address biblioteca.mnad@cultura.gob.es

In the application letter, please indicate the following:

• Date and time you wish to visit the library (confirmation of availability from the museum will be required)
• List of publications requested for consultation in the reading room. At the very least, the title and call number of the item or items requested must be indicated. A maximum of 8 items will be provided at each consultation.
• Full name and ID number

You can search our catalogue here

Books are quarantined after each consultation, so if you request an item, it may be temporarily unavailable.

Our library specialises in decorative arts, design, art history and museum studies. It dates back to the creation of the National Museum of Industrial Arts in 1912 (R.D. of 30 December 1912) and has always been a working tool of the Museum.

The collection comprises more than 20,000 volumes, approximately 500 periodicals, and an extensive collection of ephemera, pamphlets and other minor publications. Its main characteristic is the high degree of specialisation of its holdings, especially the Rare Books collection, largely collected in France, England and Germany by Doménech and Pérez Bueno, the first director and curator, respectively, of our institution. Many of the books and journals we hold cannot be found in other Spanish libraries, and some are also difficult to find in other European institutions.

The library is divided into three rooms, two of which are used for technical work and reading, and one of which is used to store old and rare books. We currently have 10 reading stations and computers from which the OPAC can be accessed.