The city library of Trier is one of the largest and oldest collections of books in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Foundation of the library was the collection of books of the Jesuit monastery, founded in 1560. By 1763 the number of instances of the collection was already 10075 volumes, the library supplied the necessary literature of the old University of Trier. After the secularization under French domination and the closure of the monastery library was transferred to the municipality.

The present building of the city library was built from 1955 to 1960 by architect Alphonse of Little and is a five-storey cubic building with concrete bars. In addition to fixed assets in the Central building is also available for visitors valuable archive. From the garden adjacent to the library two-story trapezoidal room. All construction is recognized as an architectural monument.

Today's collection of the city library of Trier is 413 thousand volumes, 2,600 manuscripts and 2,500 thousand incunabula (early printed editions). Including 38 thousand volumes Dating to the 16th and 17th century. A significant collection of literature on the history of Trier and the Moselle, wine and history. The most valuable specimens - the real treasure of the town library - can be seen in a small exhibition halls. Here are the miniatures of the famous Trier Apocalypse, one of the few surviving copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the code of Archbishop Egbert von Trier's the end of the 10th century and other ancient manuscripts.