The Biblioteca Estense (Estense Library), was the family library of the dukes of Este. Dating at least to 14th century, it was largely enriched during Ferrara's Renaissance, and finally established in Modena in the beginning of 17th century. 

The library is located in the Palazzo del Musei and it is one of the most important libraries in Italy.
Today the Library's collection contains more than 500.000 printed works, about 11 000 codexes, more than 100 000 manuscript leaves, and 1 662 incunabula. Among the manuscripts, the most famous is the 1 200-page Bible of Borso d'Este, utterly bordered with miniatures.

The library holds many medieval manuscripts, among which biblical manuscripts: Codex Mutinensis, Minuscule 358, 359, 585, 586, 618, ℓ 111.

The Estense University Library has one exhibition hall, Sala Campori, which in the past hosted the permanent exhibition of illuminated codes. In recent years, in order to satisfy the many interests of the visitors to the library as well as the decision to enhance a large part of the bibliographic wealth of the library, which would otherwise remain unknown, thematic exhibitions have been held in the Sala Campori. 

Some codes are however still on display and are of particular interest from the historical-bibliographical point of view: as well as the Bible of Borso d'Este still exhibited in the hall and the two most valuable geographical maps preserved in the institute - The Catalana Map and the Cantino Map - the largest part of the exhibitions presented in the Estense University Library also includes the Missal of Borso, the Breviary of Hercules I, the Missal of Anna Sforza, the De Sphaera.

Also known worldwide is its collection of musical manuscripts and printed books, the Raccolta Musicale Estense.