About the Collection

The Biblioteca di Scienze della Terra “A. Desio” boasts a vast collection of over 70,000 monographs and more than 900 serials, approximately 200 of which are current, available in both print and digital formats. The collection covers a broad range of geological disciplines, from palaeontology to mineralogy, and from geophysics to petrography, also including journals published from the late 19th century onwards. A dedicated section houses the Ardito Desio Collection, inherited from the eminent geologist and explorer after whom the library is named. This collection includes rare works of scientific literature and travel writing. Of particular significance is the map collection, comprising around 7,000 geological and topographical maps, including the historic Geological Map of Italy series.