In 1992, the year the Theatre Collection of the Austrian National Library was established, the extensive book collection purchased from Burgtheater actor Hugo Thimig formed the central holdings around which the other theatralia and non-book materials were grouped. The specialized study library of the Austrian Theatre Museum that arose from these beginnings currently contains around 90,000 books, periodical volumes, stage manuscripts and playbills with the emphasis being on drama, musical theatre, dance and ballet, puppet theatre, cinema, television and the radio play. The library of the Austrian Theatre Museum, now housed in the first story of Palais Lobkowitz, may no longer be a department of the Austrian National Library, but the lion’s share of the National Library’s pertinent holdings remain on permanent loan to the Theatre Museum. These holdings are listed in the catalogues of the National Library and can be ordered online via their website. Regional and international interlibrary loan is likewise conducted by the direct and interlibrary lending departments of the Austrian National Library.

The library of the Theatre Museum is a publicly accessible reference library. The Reading Room and the Catalogue Room are open to the public. The main reading room is a high-ceilinged baroque room dominated by a rococo tile oven and a spiral staircase dating from the 19th century. The room covers 100 m2 and contains 20 reading stations and open stacks with important reference works. The catalogue room contains card catalogues (author, subject and title catalogues), electronic access to the online catalogue of the Austrian National Library and the Austrian Library Association, the book pickup counter and a copying machine. Books ordered in the catalogue room are retrieved immediately and made available to the user within 15 minutes.