Protecting and promoting a “Memory of the World” library

The Martin Bodmer (Zurich 1899-Geneva 1971) Foundation was created in 1971 and aims to protect the library left to it by its founder, and make it accessible to the general public.

Throughout his life, Martin Bodmer amassed a vast collection of thousands of exceptional pieces (hundreds of papyruses, western and eastern medieval manuscripts, handwritten pages, first editions, rare engravings, and precious illustrations), which bring together the great texts of world litterature and of human history. This Bibliotheca Bodmeriana is considered as one of the best private collections in the world and has been listed as part of the UNESCO “Memory of the World” Programme since 2015.

 In order to achieve its twin objectives of protecting and promoting the collection.

The Foundation has created its own restoration and digitalisation workshops, as well as a museum which houses permanent and temporary exibitions.

 The Foundation enjoys a unique setting in the hillside of Cologny, with a spectacular view of Lake Geneva and the city of Geneva. It offers a varied programme of public engagement for adults, students, children, families, and schools.