07208 - History of Libraries

Learning outcomes

The discipline aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the cultural and eventful phases of the history of libraries. At the end of the course the student has acquired awareness of the strategic role played by libraries in the selection, conservation, transmission, and use of written memory, knows how to recognize the different types of libraries, both documentary and institutional, and knows how to evaluate the bibliographic coverage and the level of the logic of organization and physical arrangement of library documents. The student is therefore also capable of identifying with independent judgment reference paradigms and value models, useful both for an in-depth study of historical book realities and for a better management of contemporary book collections and institutions.

Course contents

Deepening of themes, concepts, and aspects considered relevant for the History of libraries:

- the foundation and development of libraries and their types;

- the dispersion and reconstruction of book funds;

- personal and private collections as a bibliographical paradigm;

- the origin of public library model;

- the architecture of ancient book halls;

- the social and cultural role of libraries.

 

* These themes will be dept through the case of study on the travel literature of Grand Tour.

Readings/Bibliography

Enrico Pio Ardolino, Storiografia delle biblioteche. Genesi, stabilità e fratture di una tradizione di studi, Pesaro, Metauro Edizioni, 2020, p.1-103.

Fiammetta Sabba, Viaggi tra i libri. Le biblioteche italiane nella letteratura del Grand Tour, Pisa - Roma, Fabrizio Serra editore, 2018, p.1-87, 143-146, 247-254.

** Non-attending students will add one of the following books:

Fiammetta Sabba, Angelo Maria Bandini in viaggio a Roma (1780-1781), Firenze, FUP, 2019 pdf gratuito, download al link https://fupress.com/catalogo/angelo-maria-bandini-in-viaggio-a-roma-(1780-1781)/3981

Alfredo Serrai, Breve Storia delle biblioteche in Italia, Milano, Sylvestre Bonnard, 2006

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, sometimes in library.

The teacher will make the material available for revision and further study on the Virtual course page (ask the teacher for a password to access it).

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral interview starting from the presentation of a topic chosen by the student or from a research assigned.

The teacher will evaluate the mastery of the content and of bibliography of the course, the ability to synthesize and analyze the themes and concepts, the use of an appropriate language, and also the critical and methodological abilities matured by the student.

You will notice that lack of training, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials offered during the course will be evaluated negatively.

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The final assessment will be based on the following indications:
- insufficient: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of texts and/or problems

- sufficient: possession of basic knowledge; interpretation mostly correct, but conducted with imprecision and little autonomy

- good: possession of intermediate level knowledge; interpretation fully correct, but not always precise and autonomous

- excellent: possession of knowledge at a high level; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills

Teaching tools

Practical activities:

- Commented projection of images of historical and contemporary libraries.

In the 'Virtual teaching resources' section - which can be accessed with a password that the teacher will communicate at the beginning of the lessons - the basic teaching material will be available from the start of the course (exemplary and in-depth Power Points, links to videos and handouts provided by the teacher). Furthermore, the recordings (or the link to the recordings) of the first two actual lessons of the course (which will be held in the classroom) will be available on Virtuale, so that everyone (attending, non-attending, workers, etc.) will be able to retrieve the orientation information for the course.

Please note that initiatives (educational visits, seminars, conferences, book presentations...) indicated and/or organized by the teacher are to be considered supplementary to the teaching and will be recognized during the exam.

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Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Fiammetta Sabba