Built in a cloister of the Medicean Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze under the patronage of the Medici pope Clement VII, the library was built to emphasize that the Medici were no longer merchants but members of intelligent and ecclesiastical society.
Dibangun dalam sebuah biara (cloister) Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze di bawah santunan paus Medici, Klemens VII, perpustakaan ini didirikan untuk menekankan bahwa keluarga Medici tidak lagi hanya pedagang melainkan bagian masyarakat terpelajar dan gerejawi.