CAI National Library

During the first meeting, on 23 October 1863, the founding members declared that both publishing activities and the collecting of documents were fundamental to the goals of the CAI and a few days later funds were allocated for the acquisition of books. Thanks to an agreement with the Academy of Sciences, the Alpine Club was entrusted with the meteorological Observatory and obtained from the Ministry of Public Education the use of a small building near the Castle of the Valentino, which became the Library’s first headquarters.
The cultural nature of the CAI, the ties between science and mountaineering, and the exchanges with similar associations led to the Library rapidly increasing.
Since the earliest years, the oldest texts about mountains were acquired alongside the newest publications. The collections were enriched by gifts from members while many well-known authors donated their works with dedications, among whom Walton, Whymper and Carrel; accounts of travel and exploration were donated by the Geographic Circle.

The Library conserves rare books, scientific studies, mountaineering classics, manuals and guidebooks to mountains all over the world.
In brief, its bibliographic heritage amounts to more than 40.000 books, 1630 magazine titles from all over the world numbering 20.000 annuals, about 10.000 topographic maps.