A BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL

Abstract

In Italy we reflect on digital libraries along two exclusive directions: a) the digitization and preservation of historical materials, b) the creation of digital repositories and other digital services in universities. All our theo- retical and institutional efforts are oriented towards these two areas of interest. Public libraries instead - whose public is less interested in scientific articles and ancient manuscript or books are completeley excluded from the general discussion on digital libraries. In this article I try to describe a new field of work and research (the Public Digital Library) that since now constituted a sort blind spot in LIS studies. I also present a new project (MediaLibraryOnLine) as an operational answer to this state of affairs in Italy.