general information

See your friends, borrow books and multimedia materials suitable for all ages, from infants to older adults. Read, relax, have a coffee, or participate in a variety of programs and public events - including workshops, book groups, or lectures on interesting, useful, and sometimes inspirational topics. We also offer free guided tours to our building which has more than 2020 years of history.

These are only a few of the many things that you can do at Salaborsa.

Books, Media, and More
We have more than 300,000 books available for checkout, 70,000 of which are for children and teenagers; almost all books are placed on open shelves in subject order, including travel books and comics. Contemporary fiction books are mainly ordered alphabetically by author. You can find a wealth of materials in the main European languages (English, French, Spanish, German) and in the following non-western languages: Arabic, Chinese, Bengali, Albanian, Russian, Polish, Rumanian, Urdu and Japanese.

You can also find audiobooks, more than 20,000 dvds of films and documentaries, periodicals, more than 22,000 cds and much more. You can check out items with your free library card. Register at the enrollment desk during opening hours with a valid ID. You can register if you have an address in Italy valid for at least 3 months.

Get and Use Your Library Card
The library card provides you with the opportunity to use all of the libraries in the city and the university network, from one place: our library (Salaborsa). As a matter of fact, you can reserve the books you search for and have them delivered to you here from most of the libraries that are located in Bologna and the surroundings, including university libraries in Ravenna, Rimini, Cesena and Forlì.

If you prefer to read ebooks or browse newspapers and magazines, ask to be registered to in our free digital library Emilib when you get enrolled.

The library card also allows you to use our computers to go online. If you have your own device, you can connect to the wifi network called BolognaWiFi, which is free, and open on an unlimited basis. If you are a tourist, you do not need a library card to obtain a temporary password to use our computers. You can also use a self service printing device with a rechargeable card you can buy on site (10 cents for each printout). 


Books, Activities for Infants, Children and Teens plus Special Facilities for New Moms
Children and teenagers can find what they need in the Salaborsa Ragazzi section. The collection includes illustrated books for young children, short stories, books made of cardboard, and books of different shapes and game books. For older children, you can find novels, poetry, fairy tales and educational books. In addition, there are more than 5,000 books in 50 foreign languages.

There is also an area dedicated to babies (from 0-3 years), where you can go to play games or pranks, find special facilities for new moms (a breastfeeding chair, devices for warming milk or for other necessities), and join storytelling readings in several languages (check out our calendar).

Resources for Teens
If you are a teenager, you can join initiatives set up by OfficinAdolescenti, a chill-out space where you can also create music from start to finish. You can use our recording studio for free and take advantage of our guidance in the use of the studio's facilities and equipment.

From the online catalogue, you can also place holds on items on loan or get a 15-day extension for the books you have checked out.

If you'd like to locate a book/dvd/audiobook to borrow, use the online catalogue. You can get the shelf number and get what you'd like. Books, audiobooks and documentaries can be checked out for 30 days, dvds, cds and magazines (except the latest issue) for 15 days. From the catalogue, you can also go online to place holds on items on loan or get a 15-day extension for the books you have checked out.

Workshops, exhibits, lectures and inspiration
At Salaborsa, you can take part in a wide range of events and workshops suitable for adults, as well as for children and teenagers.

To get updates, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our monthly newsletter in Italian.

In case you need assistance, come to us at the info desks.

Information service
Librarians are available to help you during opening hours. They can also be contacted:
› on the phone 051-2194400 on Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.
› by e-mail at bibliotecasalaborsa@comune.bologna.it
› from the website through the Chiedilo al bibliotecario (Ask a librarian) service, offered in cooperation with other libraries in Bologna. Any inquiries or requests about short bibliographies, information on facts and events in all fields, location of books and magazines will be answered by email within three working days.
› Salaborsa Ragazzi information service
By calling 051-2194411 while the library is open you can receive advice on readings for children, teenagers, parents and teachers and all of the information necessary for first time research work and studies.

Rules

When you get your library card, you receive our library rules. Please, respect them.

>> Biblioteca Salaborsa
Piazza Nettuno 3, 40124 Bologna - Italy
Opening hours
Adult section: bibliotecasalaborsa@comune.bologna.it
Children and teenagers section: ragazzisalaborsa@comune.bologna.it