Frequently Asked Questions

What can I find in the Digital Library of Madrid?

It provides access to a large part of the ancient and valuable collections held in the Regional Library and other cultural institutions in Madrid, such as the Lázaro Galdiano Foundation, the Spanish University Foundation, the Cardinal Cisneros Institute or the Royal Spanish Academy.

The aim is to progressively be able to consult the entire collection of ancient and valuable documents. To this end, digitization projects are carried out periodically, so that the user can access these funds quickly and directly, without having to go in person to the institutions that provide content to the Digital Library of Madrid. From this platform you can download the full texts of the works of our classics, scientific books, graphic materials, humorous and illustrated press, maps and posters.

In addition, it provides access to the Bibliographical Heritage Union Catalogue of Madrid, from where you can consult and locate the heritage collections of more than 70 libraries in the Community of Madrid.

 What types of materials does it include?

The types of materials currently accessible from the Digital Library of Madrid are the following:

• Books. Digital images of printed books and pamphlets from the 15th century to present day.

• Newspapers and magazines. Digital reproductions of the different issues or fascicles that make up a newspaper or magazine.

• Manuscripts. Digitizations of manuscripts.

• Maps. Digital reproductions of maps and plans.

• Graphic material. Digital resources obtained from prints, drawings, photographs, posters and other types of graphic materials.

How can I search in the Digital Library?

The Digital Library of Madrid aims to be an useful tool for all types of users, from university researchers to citizens interested in the history of their town.

To make searching easier and more accessible to all types of users, the Digital Library of Madrid offers the possibility of searching the full text of most printed monographs and periodicals.

Other options available are the following:

• General search
• Advanced search
• List of authors
• List of titles
• List of subjects
• Serials by title
• Serials by date
• Limit the search by library

See the Help page to find more information about how to perform the different types of search.

How are search results presented?

When you do a search, the list of results is displayed. By default, the program offers a list ordered alphabetically by title, in ascending order, from A to Z. But there are other possibilities for ordering the results. It can be sorted by different fields, according to the user's needs, and in ascending or descending order:

• Titletulo
• Author
• Date
• Relevance

It is also possible to filter the results by author, subject, date, language or library.

How is displayed the information about the work that interests me?

By default, bibliographic records are displayed in tab format but the user can view them in other formats according to their needs or preferences:

• FILE
• ISBD
• Dublin Core RDF
• MODS
• MARC 21
• MARCXML

How do I access the full text of digitized copyrighted works?

The full text of digitized works with copyright can only be read in the reference rooms of the Regional Library of Madrid.

How should I reference the works located in the Digital Library of Madrid?

It is necessary to indicate the author, title and publication data of the document, and mention both the institution that preserves the original and the Digital Library of Madrid, including the permanent link to the document and the date of consultation.

Examples:

Fortún, Elena (1886-1952). Aventureros en las Indias : narraciones para muchachos. 1944. Original preserved in the Regional Library of Madrid. [Consultation: 20/05/2021] Available in the Digital Library of Madrid (https://bibliotecavirtualmadrid.comunidad.madrid/bvmadrid_publicacion/elena_fortun/es/consulta/registro.do?id=22096) 

Morales, Rafael y Niveiro, Emilio. 1860 : estampa cursi dramatizada. Talavera, 1940. Original preserved in the Spanish University Foundation. [Consultation: 20/05/2021] Available in the Digital Library of Madrid (https://bibliotecavirtualmadrid.comunidad.madrid/bvmadrid_publicacion/es/consulta/registro.do?id=25547)