The Dominican monastery in Elbląg, which had fallen into decline as a result of the Reformation, was finally handed over to the city council in 1542. Until the early 18th century, the monastery’s book collection remained in its former location above the small refectory. Books from the Elbląg Dominicans’ collection found their way by various routes to the library of the city’s gymnasium, which was transformed into the Municipal Library in 1867. The first batch of books donated to the library were volumes taken over by the rector of the gymnasium in 1710. The second batch consisted of volumes which, before the demolition of the monastery refectory in 1818, were transferred first to the town hall library and then to the gymnasium library around 1840. Another batch of books formerly held by the Dominicans are prints and manuscripts found in St Mary’s Church and donated to the Municipal Library in 1863. The last relics of the monastery’s book collection donated to the Municipal Library are part of the collection of the collector Jan Jakub Convent.