The Photo Library of INASA originated in 1918, when the Reale Istituto d'Archeologia e Storia dell'Arte was funded. A nucleus of about 15,000 prints made by the Gabinetto Fotografico Nazionale was initially provided by the Direzione Generale delle Antichità e Belle Arti of the Italian Ministry of Education.

It was subsequently enriched by legacies, purchases and exchanges with public and private entities and, above all, thanks to important donations. For many years, a Photographic Laboratory was also set up in the Library of the Istituto.

The Photo Library is located in the historic building of Palazzo Venezia, with entrance at no. 49, Piazza San Marco. It can be accessed during opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30 - 14;  Thursday 9.30 - 18.

It currently collects about 130,000 prints of great historical interest and particular rarity, dating between the last decades of the nineteenth and the second half of the twentieth century. Numerous photographers are represented, together with the main national and foreign photographic companies (Istituto Italiano d’Arti Grafiche di Bergamo, Alinari, Gabinetto Fotografico Nazionale, Istituto LUCE, Anderson, Brogi, Moscioni).

Photographs are divided in Collections, which are named after their donors; within each Collection, sorting is organized by toponyms. At present there are about 2,900 toponyms, corresponding to as many localities, of which about 60% in Italy.