The National Library of Naples

Abstract

The National Library of Naples, originally the Royal Bourbon Library of Naples (i.e. the National Library of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies), is one of the main conservation libraries in Italy for the preservation of Italian history and culture. In recent years, however, we have witnessed a thorough, generational change in library users. Such ‘sea change’ concerns the requests of new services and new uses of the library space. As far as services are concerned, the demand is decisively shifting toward remote, online and digital services. As for library space, on the other hand, the question concerns a rather less formal, more friendly use of the available space. The essential problem to be faced in the next decades will therefore concern the need to reconcile conservation, easy access to information and diversification in the use of library space. We have identified five strategic lines of activities that will characterize our institution for the next decade.