Abstract

The paper retraces the history of the libraries of the University of Catania, from their foundation to the present day, as well as two civic libraries that provided, and continue to provide, facilities for University studies. Taking into account the University libraries’ mission, the paper analyses the evolution of library services, bibliographic heritage, the sites, and the reading public. It highlights a series of both strengths and weaknesses, some of which emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic emergency, and draws attention to the need to make the University Library System, which still lacks its own set of Regulations, more efficient.