Biblioteca Archivio "Renato Maestro" ("Renato Maestro" Library), Venice

Originally opened in 1981 within Venice's historic Jewish ghetto, the "Renato Maestro" library underwent a relocation in 1991 to a modern facility near the Venice Jewish museum, thanks to the financial support of the Veneto region. The library's primary objective is to preserve and promote the written and archival heritage of the Jewish community in Venice, as envisioned by the late Renato Maestro. It currently houses nearly 600 archival files, along with an extensive collection of books encompassing various subjects such as history, religion, fiction, periodicals, ancient texts, and a video library.

The Jewish archives preserved within the Renato Maestro Library Archive are of particular significance. These archives contain documents dating back to 1589 and encompass a wide range of materials, including regulatory documents of the Community up to 1949, records of the Board of Directors and the Presidency, Civil and State Registry entries, Catechumens and abjurations records, as well as documentation on discrimination, persecutions, and deportations. The archive has been recently reorganized, and a printed inventory is available. The documentation from 1815 to the present era, stored in the archival warehouse, has also been recently reorganized and arranged in a new order.

To access the Archives, individuals can make an appointment by submitting a written request or contacting the Director via email.