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Access to the library
Access to the library is free to users, Italian or foreign, over 16, subject to production of evidence of personal identification. Young people under sixteen can enter the library either in groups, accompanied by teachers, or alone, with a written recommendation of a teacher or accompanied by an adult who is in charge of their behaviour. Please note: on entering the library the user is given a "carta d'ingresso" (entering card). Such card, with all the required information, must be kept by the user during his/her stay in the library, since it is required to obtain and borrow books and to get out of the library.


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Ask for information and assistance
The URP (reception office) offers general information on the library, its services and catalogues and on the collections. The personnel helps users with the card catalogue giving advice in their research. The office accepts suggestions, comments and complaints. Requests may be addressed to the office also by mail, fax and e-mail. In each section, the personnel is at disposition for any requests from the public.


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Search the card catalogues
The card catalogue is the main tool for the document retrieval. It generally answers three questions form the user: Is there this particular book, by this author, in this edition? What is there by this author, in which editions? Is there anything on this subject? Library items can be identified through the general author catalogue and the subject catalogue. Some sections have their own catalogues, for specific material (such as musical editions) for typology of items (for ex. manuscripts and pictures) according to the order of the collections (such as the Decimal Dewey System).
The general catalogue is located in the entrance hall of the library on the first floor, and consists of two separate catalogues:
1. catalogue of items entered according to the pre-1979 cataloguing rules
2. catalogue of the "new acquisitions" catalogued according to the RICA
Please note: in the "new acquisitions" you can find items published before 1979 but arrived at the library after that date.
The general author catalogue is in alphabetic order by the author's surname - person or institution- in the case of anonymous works by the first world of the title, except articles. The subject catalogue, located in the distribution room, is ordered alphabetically by subject entry. The library personnel, particularly the URP personnel, is at your disposition for information, suggestions and explanation for the use of the general catalogue.


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Search the on-line catalogues
Since 1990, the library has started the on-line cataloguing of books in the SBN (National Library Service) union catalogue, where the most relevant Italian libraries contribute records to one single Index.

There are two ways to use the on-line catalogue:
1. from one of the computers round the library
2. from the Internet connecting to the OPAC of the BNN.
To view the on-lines catalogues click here


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Use repertoires, encyclopaedias and dictionaries
Users may find a number of encyclopaedias for reference in the Salone di Lettura (Reading Room). More encyclopaedias, bibliographies, dictionaries may be found in the Sale di Consultazione (Reference Rooms) and freely used after asking the section personnel.


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Request books
Users may require up to two items - for a maximum of four volumes - at the Distribution desk. First of all users should consult the card and on-line catalogues to make sure whether the book they are looking for is in the library collections. Users should then fill in a request form and hand it in at the Distribution desk or in one of the Sections. Particular attention should be paid to the book location indicated on the right side of the catalogue card.
Please note: whether a book can be obtained for reading and loan depends on which collection the book belongs to. The Distribution room has a display with a list of the various collections and of the average retrieval time. In case you find more than one locations in the catalogue, please note them all.
Fill up the request form and hand it in at the distribution desk. Items are usually delivered at : 9.30-10.30-11.30-12.30-13.30-15-16-17-18. As some collections are stored in parts of the building that are far away from the Distribution desk, delivery of books belonging to them will be made at: 10.30-11.30-12.30-13.30. For more information please consult the Distribution display or ask the Distribution personnel.
When the required items belong to the collections of particular sections, the request should be presented to the sections in the following list Sections distribution times.
Please note that generally each section delivers its material in real time. For more information on the request and delivery of manuscripts and rare books please click here.
For more information go to the pages of the single sections in this site.
When the items are delivered, users have to hand in their entrance card with all the required information. For books delivered at the Distribution desk, reading is allowed in the main Reading Room, while each section has a reading room for its material. After consulting the items users should hand them back at the desk or sections where they were taken and collect their entrance card.
Please note: users can leave items for deposit for the following three days; or pre-1800 printed material users have to hand in their identification together with the entrance card.


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Consult manuscripts and rare printed books
Access to the Manuscripts and rare books section is provided to scholars and students over 18 with evidence of personal identification. To consult manuscripts a written recommendation from an Italian or foreign University professor or from the head of a qualified institution is required; the letter should confirm the particulars scholarly needs of the applicant. The Manuscripts librarian authorises the applicant to consult the items in question.
The Manuscripts and rare books can be consulted only one at a time, except for motivated needs of the scholar, in special reading rooms. Users can leave up to three items in deposit for a maximum of three days. For safety and conservation reasons the admission of scholars is accepted up to the seating capacity of the special reading rooms.
For more information please view the site at the pages Sezione Manoscritti e rari and Regolamento interno.


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Borrow books
Books are lent to all registered users by the Loan office. In order to be registered for Loans users should:

      • be over 18
      • provide an evidence of personal identification
      • present two identical passport pictures
      • provide evidence of residency in Campania
Non residents can be temporary admitted to the Loan service:
      • Italian and UE citizens can temporarily join the Loan service subject to production of a document proving their research needs and their temporary address
      • Extra European citizens, besides the documents listed above, should provide documents proving their sojourn period issued by diplomatic or cultural authorities.

In order to borrow items, users must produce their loan card, their entrance card and 2 copies of the request form (mod. 26). Users can borrow up to two items (maximum of 4 volumes). All items can be borrowed for one month (4 weeks) and may be renewed if not reserved by another user.
Manuscripts, rare books, pre-1850 printed books, encyclopaedias, miscellany volumes, periodicals, dictionaries, repertoires etc. are for reference only.
Please note: for more details on loan procedures, inter-library loans and on reference items please view the pages Servizio Prestito and Regolamento interno in this site.


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Consult microfilms and microfiches
Items that can be consulted only on microfilms for reasons of conservation, or reference repertoires and bibliographies on microfiches can be viewed with special readers at the Manuscripts and rare books section, at the Emeroteca and Sale di Consultazione (Reference rooms). In order to use them ask the personnel. We charge euro 0,30 for each printed copy (A4 format)


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Consult databases and electronic resources
Databases and other electronic resources (repertoires, bibliographies, dictionaries, full-text, etc.) can be viewed at Apri la pagina collegata Reference risorse digitali.
For the list of the available data-bases please click here


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Acquisition suggestions
Users can suggest the acquisition of particular items by filling in a suggestion form at the URP. The URP personnel passes it to the Acquisition Office that evaluates whether the suggestion can be accepted or not according to the general acquisition policy of the library


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Reproduce items
According to the Italian Law (l. 248/200 art. 2), no more than 15% of the any item can be reproduced. Only when the book is rare and out of print can it be reproduced beyond such limit, subject to authorisation. Users can use photocopiers around the library, after buying a pre-paid card at the Photocopy desk.
Here follows a list of the available cards

Number of photocopies Cost of the card (euro)
9 1,00
21 2,00
34 3,00
46 4,00
97 8,00
197 16,00

Partially used cards are not reimbursed.
The photocopy request form, in two copies and authorised by the appointed personnel at the Distribution desk or in each section, should be handed in at the Photocopy desk.
Some items cannot be reproduced by photocopy, namely:

    1. pre-1800 items
    2. large format books, large format serials, illustrated books
    3. books that need to be protected from wear and tear
    4. encyclopaedias, dictionaries, repertoires

Cards are sold at the following hours

    1. Mon. thr. Fri. 9.15-12.45
    2. Sat. 9.15-11.45
    3. Mon. and Wed. 15.00-16.45

For more information, please go to Services and Regolamento interno in this site


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Reproduction request
Photographs or other forms of reproduction - excluding photocopying - can be made directly by the user, subject to authorisation of the librarian in charge of each section.
A motivated request must be produced to the librarian in charge, specifying the use of the reproductions. Reproduction made for publication is subject to specific charges.
For more details and for the on-line request form view the page Services in the site


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Ask for a guided tour of the library
Guided tours of the library and of current exhibitions for groups should be reserved in advance at the URP (Reception Office)


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