Senigallia Public Library

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Senigallia Public Library
Biblioteca Comunale Antonelliana
Outside of Library
43°42′58″N 13°13′14″E / 43.71619869645861°N 13.220472720986898°E / 43.71619869645861; 13.220472720986898
Location	Senigallia, Italy
Established	1825
Collection
Size	80.000 books and other items
Access and use
Population served	44.464
Other information
Director	Melissa Riccardi
Website	www.comune.senigallia.an.it/site/biblioteca/live/taxonomy/index.html

The public library Antonelliana is the main library of the city of Senigallia (AN), also home to the historical archive of the city.

Description[edit]

The municipal library Antonelliana or "Biblioteca Antonelliana" is located in the immediate vicinity of the Foro Annonario, Senigallia in Italy. Approximately 23,000 visitors come each year,^[1] to patron the library, thanks to the congress hall, participate in summer meetings organized throughout the city and the educational workshops.

In addition to carrying out the normal function of a public library and hosting the historical archives of Senigallia, the Antonelliana library is also a media and newspaper library, youth information center, and hosts a WiFi network.^[2]

Collection[edit]

Originally the private collection of Leonardo Antonelli, consisting largely of religious material, the library was gifted to the municipality of Senigallia following his death in 1811.^[3] Initially preserved by the municipality, thanks in particular to cardinal Domenico Consolini, many materials have been added over the years. In the 60's, thanks to the communal administration purchasing numerous books and receiving other donations, the collection rose to 35000 books.^[3] Today the collection has about 80,000 pieces including historical documents related to the construction of La Fenice.^[1][3]

Historical archive[edit]

Among the manuscripts of the library there was also a copy of the Ethiopien text the Book of Enoch, one of the first to arrive in Europe. The origin of the manuscript has long been unknown.^{[citation needed]} The orientalist Agostino Antonio Giorgi mentions it for the first time in a letter (not dated), written before 1775. It was only recently established that it came from the explorer James Bruce who had given it to Pope Clement XIV during a visit to Rome in December 1773.^[4] The manuscript, never translated or published, remained in the Biblioteca Antonelliana until after his death, Angelo Mai purchased it around 1825^[5] for the Vatican Library making it for the first time available for international research.^[1]

History[edit]

The transfer to Senigallia[edit]

Despite the testamentary disposition of Nicolò Maria Antonelli, the library was transferred to Senigallia only becoming public 1825^[3] (following the death of his nephew Leonardo Antonelli in 1811), and only after the decision of a judge was called into question by the municipal administration.^{[citation needed]} The library was housed in the "Palazzo del Governo" in Piazza Navona, Roma, and three years later the first librarian, Canon Antonio Simoncelli, was appointed. Soon the books were transferred to Piazza Garibaldi, where a gymnasium was presented, and trusted with the Jesuit library, but always keeping it open to the public. In 1860, following the suppression of many religious orders, many publications of the library of the Servites and Capuchins were placed on the shelves of the library.^[6]

Closure and rebirth[edit]

After a period of neglect, which ended in 1930, also because of the earthquake that struck in the same year Senigallia, the library was moved to the Rinaldoni palace, in Via Fratelli Bandiera. However, before the transfer was completed, it was decided the Palazzo Gherardi, along the porticos of the village, would be used as its headquarters.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1994 the library has been part of the National Library Service of Italy, four years later is used the current seat was given the location forum.^{[clarification needed]}

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Senigallia Public Library