Founded in 1646, it is recognized by the UNESCO for being the first and oldest public library in the Americas,[1][2][3] It has more than 45,000 books and manuscripts, ranging from the 15th to the 20th century.

[1] The Biblioteca Palafoxiana owes its name and foundation to Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, bishop of Puebla.

He was a lover of books, and is quoted as having said, He who succeeds without books is in an inconsolable darkness, on a mountain without company, on a path without a crosier, in darkness without a guide.On 6 September 1646, Palafox y Mendoza donated 5,000[4] of his own items to the Colegio de San Juan—which was founded by him—on the condition that they be made available to the general public.

[4] More than a century later, Francisco Fabián y Fuero ordered the construction of the premises which currently house the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.

Today, it houses the Institute for Bibliographical Research which has been in charge of publishing "Los Impresos de la Biblioteca Palafoxiana" promoting the historical value of the collections and its museum.