Although the existence of the Medical Library of the Children’s Hospital “Agia Sophia” was foreseen in the Hospital’s building program at the year of its founding (1896) and although it existed as a useful repository of material for the Pediatric Clinic, it was in 1954 that it was established and officially began its operation. For approximately a decade and a half, it operated alongside the library of the Pediatric Clinic of the University of Athens until the much-discussed merger took place in 1970 and a competition was announced for the recruitment of specialized staff. From the late 1970s, a Library Committee was formed, and a operational regulation was also developed.

The Library is housed in the old Auditorium of the Hospital from the mid-1990s, when staff was renewed, a trial afternoon schedule was implemented, and the first efforts to connect with databases were made. Since 2002, the Library has become an active member of the National Network of Scientific and Technological Libraries of NHRF/EIE, acquiring more computers, and gaining internet access.

In 2005, a merger was carried out with the neighboring pediatric library of the Children’s Hospital “P. & Αγλ. Κυριακού,” part of whose material was incorporated into the existing significant collection of international and Greek medical books, magazines, other printed materials, and electronic information sources covering topics in biomedical sciences with particular emphasis on Medicine.

The purpose of the Library is to support and promote the educational and research information needs of the hospital’s medical and nursing staff and the broader medical community. Potential users of the Library also include the medical and scientific personnel of all nursing institutions, research centers, pharmaceutical companies, as well as the academic community.