The first library of the Pompeii excavations was built as part of the Archaeological School set up in 1866 by Giuseppe Fiorelli, the director of excavations. The library was housed in the Casa dei Cadaveri di Gesso (VI 17, 27) and was devoted to the archaeology of Pompeii and sites around Vesuvius. Following the closure of the school in 1875, the library also ceased to exist.

The library of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii intends to pick up the idea of Giuseppe Fiorelli to offer support to scholars and researchers for academic study and is designed to be a crucial resource for the promotion and enhancement of archaeological research.