Library, Archive and Documentation

Rules for access and use

The Library and Archive of the Museo del Prado are research centres specialising in art history and the collections of the Museum. Therefore, researchers in this field shall have priority of use.
Visitors must identify themselves with their Spanish ID card, passport or equivalent official document at the security desk located at the entrance on Calle Alfonso XII, where they will be given an identification sticker that must be returned upon exit.
To best preserve the bibliographic and documentary collections, only blank sheets of paper, writing material and laptops, tablets and mobile phones are allowed in the Reading Room. Visitors must leave all other personal items, including books, coats, umbrellas, etc., in a locker.
Once visitors have entered the Luca Giordano Reading Room, they must go to the information desk where, if necessary, they will be registered in the Readers’ Section of the Library’s management system.
To consult the collection in the Reading Room, a request form must be filled in and handed in at the information desk. A maximum of five books or journals, five archival units or ten documentary files may be requested at a time.
The old bibliographic collection (dating from before 1910), special collections and archival collections shall be consulted at specially designated areas, and only the use of pencil is permitted. Priority shall be given to digital format if the requested materials are digitised.
The Reading Room also has a freely accessible reference library (around 5,000 volumes).
Advance requests for collection materials (a maximum of five volumes, archival units or documentary files) can be made by sending an email to prestamo.biblioteca.archivo@museodelprado.es. Advance requests for bibliographic collection materials will require the presentation of the completed application form available at https://www.museodelprado.es/aprende/biblioteca/modelos-solicitudes. Advance requests for archival collection materials must include the title, year and call number.
The collection materials of the auxiliary libraries, the Drawings and Prints Cabinet and the Restoration Workshop may be consulted in the Reading Room upon 24 hours’ prior request.
The Luca Giordano Reading Room is equipped with terminals to consult the catalogues of the Library and the Archive, as well as to access the Museum’s art collections and specialised databases. A wide selection of electronic art resources can also be consulted through these terminals. There is also equipment for the consultation of microfiches located in the Witt Library.
There is a room-booking service for the modern bibliographic collection with a maximum period of one week.
Collection materials may be reproduced within the limits of intellectual property law. The modern bibliographic collections may be photocopied. Old bibliographic collections, special materials and archival collections may not be photocopied. Pictures of the materials may be taken without flash.
Once used, the collection materials shall be placed on the trolleys or tables provided for this purpose. The on-site staff will return them to the stacks and/or the storerooms.
Bibliographic and documentary items are not permitted outside of the Luca Giordano Reading Room.
Neither eating nor drinking are permitted in the Reading Room.
Laptops and mobile phones must be on silent mode.
Users must behave in a civil manner, without disturbing employees or other visitors or disrupting the operation of the public service. They must also observe basic standards of cleanliness, hygiene and decorum. The Museo Nacional del Prado reserves the right to ask anybody who does not comply with these basic rules to leave the facilities and to deny them access in the future.
All the collection materials of the Library, Documentation and Archive Area are a public asset. Take care of them and protect them from damage. If any defect or anomaly is detected, please inform the staff.
These rules are compulsory for all visitors to the Reading Room.