The Dibner Library is the Smithsonian’s collection of rare books and manuscripts relating to the history of science and technology. Contained in this world-class collection of 35,000 rare books and 2,000 manuscript groups are many of the most important works dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries in the history of science and technology including engineering, transportation, chemistry, mathematics, physics, electricity, and astronomy. The Dibner Library shares this collection with the public through exhibitions in an adjacent gallery, through loans to other institutions’ exhibits, and through public programs.

Programs and Publications

Digital Collections from the Dibner Library

·         Scientific Identity: The Dibner Library's collection of portraits of men and women of science and techonolgy

·         Incunabula: The Dibner Library's collection of rare books printed before 1501.

·         Ramelli's Machines: Original drawings of 16th century machines for Agostino Ramelli's Le diverse et artificiose machine (Paris, 1588).

·         Heralds of Science: The Heralds of Science are the 200 books and articles selected by Bern Dibner, and donated to us in 1976, as the most significant titles in the formation and development of Western science and technology.