The initial period shows us the Library's origins, which go back to the late 19th century, in the immediate context of the organization of the Universal Exhibition of 1888 in Barcelona. The Library is installed in the first museum infrastructures that are created in the Ciutadella park and receives the contributions of private libraries formed in the 19th century.

1888 Official poster of the Universal Exhibition, done by Josep Lluís Pellicer

The first initial core of the Library's collection is to be found in the gathering together of books made as part of the tasks in preparation for the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona. Material from private libraries formed in the 19th century were rapidly added to these, such as those of Martorell Penya, Pellicer, Vidal i Quadras, Riquer, Cabot and Esteva Nadal.