Resumen de Music in Italian National Libraries
With a long history of division into several autonomous states, Italy still has several national libraries (the most important are Turin, Milan, Venice, Naples) opened between 1468 and 1804. After unification 150 years ago, two national central libraries in Florence and Rome were founded. Fundamental roles are played by the Central Institute for the National Catalogue (ICCU) and by the National Sound Archive. The national library collections developed mainly through donations, bequests, and the absorption of court or monastic libraries. The organisation of these institutions varies, but all national libraries take part in national library services, paying special attention to music materials, and offering a dedicated OPAC. The law on legal depposit issued in 2004 regulates the distribution of copies to the central and local libraries and states the obligation to deposit sound recordings and other resources. Important digitisation projects for music have taken place since the 19990s, but are now reduced, owing to cuts in culture budgets.
