Italy’s central libraries

The vagaries of Italian history, particularly the country’s relatively recent unification, has given the country a complex network of national libraries. The country has two central national libraries, in Rome and Florence, and five national libraries, in Turin, Naples, Venice, Milan, and Palermo. The article begins by looking back at the history of the libraries before exploring their current organisation, particularly the roles and responsibilities of the national libraries. It concludes by presenting the services shared by the network of national libraries.
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