HISTORY OF LIBRARIES AND DOCUMENTATION

The seminar, considered as a core educational activity, intends to approach the library as a cultural institution, defining its social role in the past, present and a projection to the future

The students will acquire an advanced level of knowledge of the history of libraries and their cultural context that will enable them to achieve the following results: effective ability to fully study documentary and book sources, investigating them on several levels: in their material aspects, in their production process, in the contents, as well as in the functions (cultural, social, ideological, political) they perform in their respective contexts of origin and conservation. Based on this specialist knowledge, the students will be able to understand and evaluate new and complex situations related to the contemporary world of archives and libraries.

No particular prerequisites are required.

The seminar will be dedicated to a multimedia presentation of the history of libraries, while the students will prepare each an individual paper dedicated to the annual specific theme

- Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries: from the Invention of Writing to the Computer Age, New York, Continuum, 1998
- Paolo Traniello, La biblioteca pubblica: storia di un istituto nell' Europa contemporanea, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997
- Storia delle biblioteche in Italia: dall'Unita a oggi, a c. di Paolo Traniello, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2002 or the updated edition of 2014
- Frédéric Barbier, Histoire des bibliothèques d'Alexandrie aux bibliothèques virtuelles, Paris, Armand Colin, 2013
THESE TEXTS ARE ONLY A SUGGESTION FOR BASIC READING AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY EXAM

Attenders - The exam consists in the preparation of an individual paper (8 pp.). The theme is to be decided with the tutor.
Non Attenders - The exam consists in the preparation of an individual paper (20 pp.). The theme is to be decided with the tutor.

frontal lesson and papers presented by the students
Lessons will be held in Italian. Possibility of writing seminar paper in English or French. Possibilitè d'écrire l'épreuve en français

Italian

Attenders - The exam consists in the preparation of an individual paper (8 pp.. The theme is to be decided with the tutor.
Non attenders - The exam consists in the preparation of an individual paper (20 pp.). The theme is to be decided with the tutor at a reception (not by mail or by phone). The request to prepare a paper is accepted until June 30 for the current academic year. After this date, the request will refer to the following academic year.
It is reaffirmed that the paper is in fact the final exam. Therefore, students are required NOT to present themselves on the exam date published on the web. This date is valid for the delivery of the paper via mail. The tutor reserves the right to summon the student if she finds it necessary to discuss the paper.
Reception hours: Monday 11am-1pm in the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Palazzo Malcanton Marcorà (but students are asked to check the "avvisi" section on the tutor's webpage to see whether the reception hour has not changed).
Students who wish to participate in the seminar as History of documentation are invited to contact the tutor.
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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