The library of the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology

Abstract

The history of the library of the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE) is closely linked to the ups and downs that this CSIC institute, the oldest in Aragon, has experienced. In 1942, the Pyrenean Studies Station was founded in Jaca (Huesca) by Order of 10 October of that year (BOE nº 294 of 21 October), with a clear multidisciplinary focus (geology, geography, biology, climatology, ethnography, philology, law, prehistory...) within the scope of the study of the border mountain range. In 1948, its name changed to the Pyrenean Studies Institute (IEP), being more like, as the former director of the IPE Martínez Rica pointed out, "a research centre limited to coordinating the research of the Pyrenees of other institutions" and offering services such as a library, residence or laboratory. With the appearance in 1945 of the first issue of the journal Pirineos, an exchange with publications from other research centres was possible and thus the formation of a specialised library began. It is a service that the library continues to provide, although with a much smaller exchange volume.