Goethe Collection

The Goethe Collection originated from a substantial donation made by the Goethe-Institut Mailand to what was then the German Studies section of the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Philological Studies (Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe), now part of the Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Mediation. In 2007, the Goethe-Institut Mailand donated approximately 9,000 volumes to our university, representing the historical core of its library holdings. The institute has since continued to expand its collection, focusing on German language learning and teaching, as well as contemporary German-language fiction, in line with its mission. The Goethe Collection primarily comprises texts published in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with a predominance of monographs in German, though it also includes Italian translations of major authors, mostly in paperback editions. The collection is particularly strong in literature, covering all literary periods and often featuring complete works by key authors. It also includes a significant number of historical texts (around 500 monographs), followed by works on philosophy, social sciences, visual arts (including numerous exhibition catalogues), and performing arts. At present, nearly 5,000 volumes have been catalogued and are available for loan, with the remaining volumes set to be catalogued by 2025.