The Foundation Library, which has been built up over almost half a century, contains just over 13,000 volumes, divided into numerous sections and sub-sections. A provisional catalogue can be consulted online from this website.

Reflecting the interests of Prof. Rubino, after whom the Foundation is named, the most important section is that dedicated to German Studies, with valuable complete editions of the works of the most important German-language writers, from Goethe to Thomas and Heinrich Mann, from Heine to Schnitzler, with rare 19th-century editions, such as that of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales, with valuable illustrations. Alongside texts of literary criticism and many now rare works of non-fiction there are also relevant collections of correspondence, volumes on linguistics and the German language, from the late 19th century to the end of National Socialism, published in both Germany and Italy.

In terms of number of volumes, there is also a significant section on Italian Literature, covering a time span from the very beginnings of literature in the vernacular to contemporary works. It contains rare editions of a large number of classics (Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch, Leopardi, Manzoni), including two prestigious editions of Dante’s poems (1899 and 1934).

There are also important sections on Art History, Musicology, Photography, History (especially of the period from the 1920s to the 1940s), Philosophy (with complete works by philosophers from different eras, from Aristotle to Plato, from Hegel to Nietzsche), and a vast collection on Sicily (consisting of 19th and early 20th century volumes exploring the island’s culture, customs, architecture and landscape). 

The Periodical section also includes a valuable selection which illustrates the cultural history of Umbertine Italy up to the Second World War (e.g. issues of ‘Il Borghese’, ‘Il Mondo’, ‘L’Eroica’, ‘La vie Parisienne’, ‘Il Politecnico’), as well as issues of Nazi-era journals (such as ‘Die Frauenwarte’, ‘Kyffhäuser-Jahrbuch’, ‘Signal’).

Thanks to an agreement signed in 2024 with the Superintendency of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Sicily, the Foundation’s library collection is currently being included in the Territorial Information System and thus in the OPAC of the National Bibliographic Service in order to allow the widest possible number of users to access the library.