2546 Italian Libraries

[LEFT]Ok I'll try with my silly question in a new thread. Do libraries operate in Italy like UK libraries? I mean are they open to anyone to go in, take a book off the shelf and sit and read? What about joining and taking books out? I presume you have to be a resident.[/LEFT]

[LEFT]Also anyone in Lunigiana know where the nearest library is?[/LEFT]

Category
General chat about Italy

Good ole' Google!

[url]http://biblioteca.comune.massa.ms.it/biblio.html[/url]

[url]http://www.lunigiana.it/info/numeri.php[/url]

there are several!

well done Tuscan Hills - yours was the better post (I used altavista.it!)

Thanks guys! These look like local repositories of info alright and the fact that some of them make their catalogues available online indicates to me that they are making them publicly available.

Do either of you know if they hold other stuff, such as novels and whether you are able to actually borrow the material? Libraries in the UK seem a bit more like gathering places than the buildings I've seen in Italy.

Not a scooby, let me know if you find out ......I'm sure all you'll ned is your code fiscale, passport, driver's licence, DNA sequence, 500EUR "processing fee" etc.....
;)

There's a library in Aulla (basement level of the council buildings). I've joined but haven't actually borrowed anything yet (although you can borrow books). I just had to give some ID to join and it looks pretty much like a normal British library really.

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]Not a scooby, let me know if you find out ......I'm sure all you'll ned is your code fiscale, passport, driver's licence, DNA sequence, 500EUR "processing fee" etc.....
;)[/QUOTE]

My friend's son is working in a library in Maratea. It is a new project and the building is being rented from the nuns. It is on trial and hoping funds will still be forthcoming from the commune next year.
I was brought 4 very interesting books , one was giving the explanations of Italian surnames ( very good) and 2 were all about the Italians who emigrated to America, the last was a book of photos of New York pre 1920 and the same scene in 1975.
When I asked how many people used the library , I was told that only students went in to borrow books, the rest of the community just watch TV.
I shall certainly carry on to use the library as long as it is there. By the way I did not pay anything,(getting very Italian ) know someone who works there.

Pamela Catalano