Abstract

With respect to some recent episodes, which, according to the author, witness the essential absence of a real project for both the development and the increase of our libraries' facilities, the article evaluates the difficult situation which, for years, has been affecting the State Public Libraries; most importantly would therefore be a serious reflection about what roles they should play. Due to the specific nature of such institutes, as well as to the peculiarity of the collections therein preserved, could some activities be taken into consideration for the realization of the enhancement of their historic heritage, protection, legal deposit, bibliographic facilities. The contribution eventually proposes some possible organization solutions for such sector, by assuming a structure including regional or interregional poles, as well as a major link and a better coordination between the two national central libraries, committed to accomplishing different but complementary tasks.