Origin of the collection

The origin of the library goes back to the donation, in 1785, of the books belonging to the valencian eminent gentleman Francisco Pérez Bayer.

Following this generous example, other professors offered the funds of their own collection to enlarge the increasing university “bookstore”. Unfortunately, during the Independece war a bomb burst on the university building causing a fire on which most of the establishing funds were lost.

This catastrophe encouraged the valencian rectors, professors and patricians, who remade the Library legating their private collections. Among them Vicente Blasco, Domingo Mascarós (the first librarian in the Institution), Salvador Perellós and Onofre Soler. On its turn, the Library carried out a purchasing policy which served to increase its already fed funds. The Library was re-opened in 1837 with these funds, plus the works proceding from the funds of the convents coming that had been suppressed by Mendizabal’s Disentailment Law.

Through this concept entered the books that had belonged to the convents of Carmelitas Descalzos Order, Franciscanos, Agustinos (from Alcoy, Játiva and Valencia), Trinitarios Descalzos, Dominicos, Montesa Order, etc.; but the most important and valuable funds were the ones coming from the Monastry of San Miguel de los Reyes, with the Fernando de Aragón, Duke of Calabria’s legate.

Later on, other important donations arrived, as the one from the ancient professor and librarian Mariano Liñán who upon his death he donated his collection of books, coins and medals, same as Francisco Javier Borrull did.

In 1843 Ginés de Perellós, Marques de Dos Aguas, legated its works. The legacy from Vicente Hernández Máñez, who was the University librarian, was one of the donation which furnished the University Library with most of the rare and sale originals. In 1867 entered the legacies of Vicente Dauder and Vicente Alfonso, and in later years those from Francisco Carbonell, the Rector Juan del Castillo y Carroz, that from priest and professor Francisco Estruch, Vicente Salas Quiroga, etc.

Other of the importat funds is the dramatic works collection owned by José Maria Moles, consisting in abourt 1200 volumes, which was given, together with its catalog and its furniture by the Law testamentary executors, to the Valencia Town Hall which, in turn, made donation of it to the University.

Due to its character as a Provincial Library there was an entry of funds at the end of XIX century, proceeding from the Ministry of Public Works, as well as works from the Duke of Osuna’s Library.

In 1901 entered the last importat donation, it was the legacy of Luis Gonzaga Gascó Albert; the theme of his library shows his condition of mathematician and writer.

The University Library was, during and after the Civil War, depositary of the books requisitioned to institutions and private individuals, which constitute a fund of great usefulness for the study of social history and the graphic arts at that time.

It is worth mentioning the collection of valencian posters about the Spanish Civil War.

Other funds given in the 20th Century are the ones donated by Sanchis Sivera and Francisco Alcayde.

At present, the Library maintain a policy of adquisitions of ancient works printed in Valencia and written by valencian authors, as well as many others acquisitions to increase its already important collection of reference.