Biblioteca delle Donne
The Italian Women's Library was born in the late seventies as part of the Center for Documentation, Research and Women's Initiative, thanks to a project developed by the Orlando Association, an association of women active in politics and culture, who wanted to found a autonomous institution to promote the culture of gender difference and the public presence of women.
The Orlando Association currently manages the library through an agreement with the Municipality of Bologna, with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and thanks to funding from the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities. Since 1/8/2013 it is connected to the Bologna Library Sector.
Nestled within the spaces of the Santa Cristina Convent in Bologna, the Biblioteca delle Donne (The Women's Library) is the most prominent Italian library devoted to gender studies and feminism.
Its rooms abd collections occupy part of a historical building, which is shared with the Federico Zeri Foundation and the University of Bologna's DAMS (Art, Music and Spectacle's Disciplines). All of these institutions offer valuable resources for art historians.
The Biblioteca delle Donne's catalogue includes literature on a variety of subjects, such as women's movements, female creativity, and gender divide, among others.
The library's historical holdings include 2,000 monographs and periodicals pre-1945; Sofia's Library with its 4,000 books on literature for girls; and Rosi Braidotti's collection of feminist theory. The donations Gianelli and Pozzati focus on women's art.
Responsible
Anna Pramstrahler
anna.pramstrahler@comune.bologna.it
Librarians
Giovanna Diambri
Giancarla Melis
Deborah Sannia
Switchboard and general services
Francesca Righi
International relations
Anna Pramstrahler
Library
bibliotecadelledonne@women.it
tel + 051-4299411
Orlando Association - Administrative Office
amministrazione@women.it
tel +39 051 4299417