In November 1996, pursuing one of its founding aims, which is the promotion of Greek culture worldwide, the Foundation funded the design, equipment and operation of a library dedicated to Hellenic and Roman Art, inside the department of Greek and Roman art in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The collection of more than 10,000 books on Hellenic and Roman art is extraordinarily comprehensive. It was formed in 1931 and includes literary works from the early medieval ages, rare editions, contemporary editions and catalogues from the first auctions held in Europe.

The Library, which on October 25, 2010 celebrated 10 years of operation, covers 685 sq. m. of space and is open to both researchers and visitors of the Museum. Appreciative to the Foundation"s grant, the Museum decided on the name "Onassis Library for Greek and Roman Art".

Since its establishment, the Library has served the research needs of more than 15,000 students, researchers, artists, authors, curators, conservators, and specialists, while its content has so far been an invaluable source of information for the production of multiple editions and scientific papers.

In 2010 it was announced that the Museum plans to digitize a number of the Library"s volumes, so as to offer remote access to its treasures electronically, thus maximizing its benefits.

The Library adds to the efforts of the Museum"s Administration to highlight the significance of Ancient Greek and Roman Art, a period uniquely represented by the relevant artifacts inside the renovated Museum halls.

For additional information concerning the library, please visit its website.