Our Library
With its hundreds of medieval manuscripts and incunables, a historic collection of some 25,000 pre- 1800 volumes, more than 1,000 current periodicals, special Greek, Slavic, Armenian and Georgian sections, hundreds of copper plates, tens of thousands of images, The Bollandist Library is unique in its field. It is continuously increased and updated thanks to painstaking and systematic documentation seen to by the Bollandists themselves since the very beginning.
Catalogues
Our library has several catalogues:
— The online catalogue “Museum Bollandianum” (OPAC) contains:
- All the books printed before 1800 (except the liturgical books)
- All the books published after 2003
- All the journals
- Most books belonging to the following sections: hagiography, catalogues of manuscripts, patristics and middle ages, Byzantium, liturgy (excluding liturgical books), monasticism, spirituality
— The general catalogue by authors (card index stopped in 2003, to be consulted in the library).
— The analytical catalogue (card index by topics, mostly names of saints and places, as well as all topics relating to hagiography: stopped in 2020 and about to be digitized).
— Card catalogues of special collections (to be consulted in the library):
- Liturgical books
- Positiones of causes of beatification and canonization
- Manuscripts
Looking for a specific item and not finding it in our online catalogue? Do not hesitate to contact us : info@bollandistes.be
Keeping the Library Updated
Since 1837, the Bollandists themselves have taken great care, day after day (and continue to do so), to acquire all the significant publications in their field. If you have recently published a book or an article in the hagiographic field, please do not hesitate to send us a copy! It will be included in the list of “Publications received” in our journal Analecta Bollandiana.
Your Name Included in a Rare Book!
We are grateful to the benefactors whose gifts allow us to purchase ancient and rare books on the antiquarian market. Willing to help and have your name associated with a rare book? Please contact us: saintsernin@bollandistes.be
Sale of Duplicates
Duplicates from our library are on sale on Abebooks. This is another way to help us.
We have several catalogues by topics, which you may consult at the following address: https://www.abebooks.com/societe-des-bollandistes-bruxelles/2651440/sf
Access
The library is accessible to scholars upon appointment (info@bollandistes.be)
From Monday to Friday
9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00
Closed during the months of July and August
