1. Library System of Florence SDIAF 1 Library System of Florence Projects in Progress and Future Plans for Citizens and their Needs for Education and Information

2. Library System of Florence SDIAF 2 The last five years the whole range of Florence municipal libraries have undrgone a major change. The regional law n. 35/1999 imposed to organize library systems with: -integrated catalogue of their material in electronic form -interlibrary loan service

3. Library System of Florence SDIAF 3 Sistema Documentario Integrato dell’Area Fiorentina SDIAF www.comune.firenze.it/sdiaf - 18 municipalities - 30 public libraries - 18 archives - about 40 libraries and archives run by associations and cultural organizations

4. Library System of Florence SDIAF 4 In 2003: - 675.115 citizens in the SDIAF area - 1.064.358 records in the integrated catalogue - more than 120.000 monthly web contacts - more than 800.000 library users - 11.557 interlibrary loans

5. Library System of Florence SDIAF 5 The System SDIAF coordinates the funding process and guarantees complete management of shared services

6. Library System of Florence SDIAF 6 Since 1992 the public Library of Isolotto has been organizing a number of actions concerning Adult Education and Lifelong Learning The Public and the Libraries: Reading, Information and Job Guidance was published within the Adult Education Action of the Socrates Programme

7. Library System of Florence SDIAF 7 conditionLifelong learning is the sine qua non condition for an adequate integration of the individual into the democratic life of any country Libraries can take on a very significant role if they enter into the educational process

8. Library System of Florence SDIAF 8 The Library of Isolotto has involved different groups of public; every time the librarians have invented different ways to attract the public to the library

9. Library System of Florence SDIAF 9 The idea that public libraries must not be enshrined in that aurea of sacredness which made them an exclusive place for selected few, barring access to all others, has spread All public libraries are promoting lifelong learning actions

10. Library System of Florence SDIAF 10 The stellar distribution project Free borrowing facilities in places normally visited by people: supermarkets, recreational clubs, public offices, waiting rooms in surgeries, hairdressers……. Two months ago the latest borrowing point was opened in a commercial centre

11. Library System of Florence SDIAF 11 The Bibliobus service An old disused bus equipped as a library with 3.000 books It drives through town every day with predetermined itineraries www.comune.firenze.it/comune/biblioteche/bibiso/Biblio.htm

12. Library System of Florence SDIAF 12 Circoli di studio Small groups of people who voluntarily decide to meet and discuss to improve their knowledge about a specific matter www.circolidistudio.org www.edafirenze.it

13. Library System of Florence SDIAF 13 Job Guidance A special section of the library dedicated to the job guidance The library sets up a network with the agencies for employment

14. Library System of Florence SDIAF 14 Mediateca 2000 Promoted and funded by the Ministry of Culture 8 - 10 PC in each library in order to: -promote the access to internet, -the knowledge of new medias, -computer training, -on line courses (www.progettotrio.it)

15. Library System of Florence SDIAF 15 Promotion of the reading for people in difficult situation Il libro parlato: books recorded on cassettes for blind people (www.uiciechi.it) Un libro e un volontario per amico: borrowing points in hospitals Un giardino di lettura: borrowing point run by disabled people in one of the historical gardens in town

16. Library System of Florence SDIAF 16 Leggere fa bene (Reading does you good) International campaign Born to read www.aib.it/aib/npl/npl.htm A booklet in form of a medical prescription with reading proposals for children, teenagers and their parents

17. Library System of Florence SDIAF 17 Libernauta Competition for young people from 14 to 19 A selection of 15 Italian and foreign books Participants have to read at least 4 books and write a short review www.libernauta.net

18. Library System of Florence SDIAF 18 Scaffale del libero scambio (Bookcrossing) Some book exchange point shelves have been organized in town You can take a book, read it and leave on the shelf again www.comune.firenze.it

19. Library System of Florence SDIAF 19 Multicultural sections Libraries in areas with high immigration organize multicultural sections with books in foreign languages and foreing language counselling service

20. Library System of Florence SDIAF 20 Leggere per non dimenticare (Read not to forget) 45 meeting with Italian writers every year About 15.000 people went to the meeting from October 2003 to May 2004 www.leggerepernondimenticare.it

21. Library System of Florence SDIAF 21 School visits to promote the library services and to teach how to use the catalogue and make researches

22. Library System of Florence SDIAF 22 Volunteers in civil service Young people from 18 to 26 work for a year in projects concerning libraries A good opportunity to experience a job www.serviziocivile.it

23. Library System of Florence SDIAF 23 Newspaper and periodical libraries Cooperation is necessary to organize the newspaper and periodical library of Florence You can read newspapers and magazines in a municipal library the centre of Florence www.comune.firenze.it/comune.biblioteche/palagio.htm Other libraries (National Library in Florence and Marucelliana Library) preserves the newspapers of the previous years

24. Library System of Florence SDIAF 24 Biblioteca della città A new project: a large new library for all those citizens who generally do not use library services but are attracted by an informal approach. Sofas, armchairs, small tables, coffe bar will welcome citizens who want to read something, listen to music, watch a film, visit in internet. Biblioteca della città will be opened by the end of 2005.

25. Library System of Florence SDIAF 25 New role of librarians In the last five years their role has widened They were able to conform with -the new models of organization imposed by the law - the increasing demand of the citizens concerning education and information

26. Library System of Florence SDIAF 26 Today public libraries in Florence are a dynamic place They provide services which are more and more tailored to the needs of its users A recent statistical survey shows that citizens are satisfied of municipal libraries of Florence