The Biblioteca Estense is the city's oldest library with the largest collection, which includes incunabula and illuminated manuscripts. It is described in Chapter 2 of this guide.

The public library named after the local author Antonio Delfini in 1992 occupies prestige premises in the restored Palazzo Santa Margherita on corso Canalgrande. An open-shelf library, it offers various services with a periodicals room, an audio-visuals room and three rooms for children (one with books for non-readers). There is also a municipal service with nine outlying libraries in the various areas of the city.