In 2023, with the opening of the Botanical Museum and the relocation of the Historical Herbarium, the rooms housing the library of the Botanical Garden were renovated and equipped with multimedia and exhibition spaces. Also, the existing Giovanni Marsili botanical library was expanded and enriched by the addition of the Vincenzo Pinali library of medicine.

The library of the Botanical Garden was established in 1835 at the behest of Prefect Giuseppe Antonio Bonato (1753-1836), physician, professor of botany and expert bibliophile, who in 1795 acquired the copious library of his predecessor Giovanni Marsili (1727-1795), which he expanded and donated ultimately to the University. Before that time, by contrast, the Prefects would usually have their own personal libraries in the residence they occupied.
During the 19th century, Prefects Roberto de Visiani (1800-1878) and Pier Andrea Saccardo (1845-1920) made further additions to the library, which in Saccardo’s case included a singular collection of portraits depicting botanists and naturalists.

Between 1921 and 1947, items in the library unrelated to botany were donated to the Library of the University of Padua, and to the institute’s Library of Pharmacology.
The library documenting the history of medicine owes its existence to the efforts of Vincenzo Pinali (1802-1875), professor of medicine. On his death, he bequeathed much of his considerable collection of books to the University of Padua, with the wish that a library of medicine be established. Thereafter, other donations of medical literature were added over time.

The library of the Botanical Garden is housed on the first floor of the building that was always the Prefect’s house up until 1970, and can be viewed by appointment. Info: https://www.bibliorto.cab.unipd.it/