The Ebro Observatory University Institute’s library dates back to a change within the Society of Jesus at the end of the 19th century when it decided to incorporate Natural Sciences into the curriculum at its Col·legi Màxim. This is how the Ebro Observatory was inaugurated in 1904 next to the Faculty of Philosophy, specialising in “Earth and Space Sciences”. From the outset, its library was conceived as a fundamental resource to be able to carry out research at the Observatory dedicated to promoting science. It also began establishing links with other scientific institutions around the world.
The library currently has approximately 11,000 volumes of which 1,400 date from before the 20th century. Its documentary collection is dedicated fundamentally to the History of Science, including an incunabulum on Astronomy, approximately 50 texts from the 16th to 18th centuries, the historical collection of the magazine, Ibérica, as well as the following special collections: the legacy of the Naturalist, J. J. Landerer, and the donation of Narcís Monturiol Library’s technical books.