The “Istituto Musicale "Vincenzo Bellini” library, named after the Catanese musicologist Francesco Pastura (1905 - 1968), currently holds a collection of around 13,000 books, consisting of manuscripts, scores, sheet music, books on the history of music, musicology, treatise, reference works, opera librettos, and music journals. In addition to these, there are also audio recordings which include around 1300 CDs, 400 33rpm LPs, 78rpm vintage records, audiocassettes, and VHS video cassettes of opera and jazz. 

Some scores and sheet music dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century come from donations from Catanese musicians such as the Sangiorgi Collection, which includes autograph scores of  operas by Alfredo Sangiorgi (1894 - 1968); an autograph manuscript of Castelnuovo-Tedesco; the Schininà Collecton, donated by the violinist Luigi Schininà, which consists of a collection of around 2000 books, scores and texts on musical and  musicology.  

Recently the library collection has been enriched by other valuable material donated by the former institute director, Santi Di Stefano, which comprises a considerable quantity of scores and books, and a fine collection of 33rpm and 78rpm records.

A further addition to the library’s valuable collection has been with the acquisition and latest donations of Domenico Danzuso, and the Catanese musician Antonino Gandolfo, who was active during the second half of the 19th century, of whose work the institute library is in now possession, including scripts of operas, sacred music and for the piano.

The library makes available to its users: three multimedia PC stations with internet connection; a hi-fi stereo system for playing phonographic discs, CDs and cassettes for group listening, and a video player and television monitor.

In addition to the above mentioned services, the library provides the use of photocopying and digital scanning for bibliographic material. It is also possible to use the computers for word processing and musical notation (service reserved for teaching staff and enrolled students) 

For loans, returned books, and advice on material, the service hours are as follows:

In our library it is possible to consult: