About the Library

The “Giovanni Ricci” Library is one of the most significant mathematics libraries in Italy. It serves a specialised user base comprising lecturers, researchers, and students, while also acting as a key resource for the training of secondary school teachers.  

The origins of the current library date back to 1924, with the first recorded acquisition on 8 December 1924. Initially housed in the Mathematics Cabinet of the Royal Polytechnic, the library was transferred on 31 December 1934 to the Institute of Mathematics at the Royal University, in its present location at Via Saldini 50. By the end of 1939, its collection had expanded to 4,390 volumes, thanks in part to substantial donations from academics at the University, the Polytechnic, and the University of Pavia.  

For 35 years, from 1938 to 1973, the library was led by its esteemed director, Professor Giovanni Ricci, a professor of Mathematical Analysis, after whom the library is named. He significantly expanded the collection, acquiring rare mathematical works from the 18th and 19th centuries through antiquarian bookshops. By 1973, the year of his passing, the collection had grown to approximately 27,000 volumes. Following his death, the Ricci family donated a further 2,000 volumes from his private collection.  

In subsequent years, the library saw a considerable increase in the acquisition of serials, both through subscriptions and exchange agreements. These were facilitated by offering publications such as “Collectanea Mathematica,” followed by the “Quaderni del Dipartimento” and the “Rendiconti del Seminario Matematico e Fisico di Milano.”  

In 2000, the library underwent a major refurbishment, enhancing its facilities and resources to better serve its users.