The so-called Villa of the Papyri (wikipedia), which may have been owned at one time by L. Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, consul in 58 BCE, father-in-law of G. Julius Caesar, and patron of the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus, was situated in Herculaneum and buried in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. It was located and identified around 1750 by the Swiss excavator Karl Weber. It contained a large library, much of which has been discovered in form of carbonized papyrus rolls. It is assumed that many more are still buried.
The recent publication, The Library of the Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum)
, is discussed in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2006.01.41.The book, with 42 color and 40 black & white illustrations and described as "a very readable account", sounds like an interesting read. Moreover, the reviewer comments:
"[It is] a useful introduction to a much neglected area of philology, if only because in that area an aspect of typical classical scholarship (i.e., paleography) is mixed with the practical application of highly sophisticated technical methods and devices, useful even for some whose interest goes further than that of the general public. Especially the notes offer interesting additional information."
Ancient/Classical History at About.com has several links on the subject. Googling shows that roguesclasscism did some blogging on the villa about a year ago.
A book (very costly!) about Karl Weber, Rediscovering Antiquity : Karl Weber and the Excavation of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae
, is also reviewed at Bryn Mawr: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 96.12.10.
Pompeii : A Novel
by Robert Harris is a recent, well researched; fictional treatment of the eruption of Vesuvius, featuring among other historic characters the two Plinys. I never got around to writing a review, but I can recommend it as an entertaining read.
Pliny the Younger's eyewitness account: Letter to Tacitus 6.16 (about the death of his uncle), Letter to Tacitus, 6.20. He was about 17 years old at the time of the event, although the letters were written much later.