Welcome
The University of Palermo's Library System and Historical Archives (SBA) includes libraries, historical archives and coordination offices.
The University Library System:
- aims to meet the information and documentary needs of its users, ensuring the development and coordination of the acquisition, preservation and enjoyment of bibliographic assets, as well as the access and dissemination of information also through the use of innovative technologies.
- provides students and teachers with services, tools and bibliographic collections (paper and digital) for study and scientific research
- supports the dissemination and evaluation of the research products elaborated by University of Palermo authors
- interacts with local institutions for the realization of events aimed at promoting the spread of culture and knowledge.
- aims to contribute to the intellectual development of the academic community and society in general
Locations of the campus libraries, opening hours, facilities
The University offers users 23 libraries with numerous rooms designed to make reading, study and research more enjoyable. The libraries offer, in addition various services: Wi-Fi, computers, copiers, scanners, etc.
Some libraries remain open until the evening, it is possible to check the opening hours in the section dedicated to libraries with evening hours, in the information box on the right, by clicking on the following link: https://www.unipa.it/biblioteche/en/frequenta-biblioteca/le-biblioteche/index.html
As provided for in the Regulations for Access to Library Services of the University of Palermo (R.D. 5827/2022, Art. 3, paragraphs a,b,c), the libraries are also open to external users.
Our collections
Our printed collection are available on libraries reading rooms. They consist of more than 1,500.000 documents. Digital collections are made of over 33.000 journals, 330.000 e-books, e-journals, several databases. To research and identify our printed and digital collections, users can search by UniPa Discovery Service: In case of digital resources, the document could be read on screen. Researching printed documents by Unipa Discovery service, results will point to libraries reading rooms showing their position on shelves to lend or read books in house.
The IRIS Repository offers straight access to documents related to University of Palermo professors and researchers scientific working papers.
Library services
University of Palermo libraries offers quality services, both accessible from home or from the reading rooms. Click here to access the electronic collections, without necessarily going physically to the libraries.
Moreover, its possible to obtain documents from other libraries through document delivery and interlibrary loan services.
Reference librarians facilitate access to the libraries’ collections and services and assist patrons in finding information and in learning how to conduct research to find information on their own: support is offered at the libraries' reference desks, via e-mail, telephone and the live chat “Ask a librarian”. For international students and vising professors the reference service is also available in English.
Some libraries reading rooms are open until the evening.
Further services
- Loan, renewal and booking of books or other documents
- Orientation to the use of specific databases for the evaluation of scientific research results
- Information literacy online classes and training courses aimed at learning bibliographic research methodologies, evaluation and ethical and effective use of information source
- Loan and booking of e-Readers and tablets