This collection includes 161 works, made up of illustrated books by artists, books and exhibition catalogues designed by artists, book-objects, and artist-made books. The original core, built through the Marchi and Politi Collections, has been expanded over time through donations from artists including Stefano Arienti, Enrico Baj, Enrico Castellani, Jean Dubuffet, Lucio Fontana, Sol LeWitt, Bruno Munari, Giulio Paolini, and Mauro Staccioli.
The CID/Arti Visive collection has grown through the acquisition of archives with important historical and artistic value, many of which began as personal libraries of critics and scholars, or as archives of magazines, institutions, and foundations. It includes Italian and international catalogues from 1950 to today, more than 330 specialist magazines, audiovisual materials, and other items that document the history of contemporary art.