University Public Library of Cagliari

The Library was founded in 1764 thanks to the “Constitutions” for the University Reform, it received a regulation by the King Vittorio Amedeo III of Italy in 1785 and finally opened  in 1792 in the XVIIIth Century Hall on the first floor of the new University Palace.At the beginning, its possessions were formed by texts belonging to the King's Library; donations by personages such as the Minister Bogino (Minister of Sardinia affairs from 1759 to 1773); acquisitions of funds belonging to the suppressed monastic body of the Jesuits (among them, the private collection of the jurist of Cagliari Monserrato Rossellò -XVIth- XVIIth Cent.-, rich in manuscripts and prints of fine quality); copies of the works that teachers had to give to the library; issues of the Royal printers; issues printed in Turin by the Royal Typography.In 1843 the Library acquired the Baylle collection of Sardinian matter, very important for local historical researches.Among the most important donations, we can find those of the bookseller Timon, the baron Falqui- Pes, the surgeon Martino, the Senator Senno, the Economist Todde, the doctor Basso- Arnoux, doctor Piras- Wonner, the lawyer Orrù, the Priest Cossu. Among the most important donations, we can find those of the bookseller Timon, the baron Falqui- Pes, the surgeon Martino, the Senator Senno, the Economist Todde, the doctor Basso- Arnoux, doctor Piras- Wonner, the lawyer Orrù, the Priest Cossu.
From the first small nucleus of volumes (about 8,000), the Library grew up to 14.000 in 1842, 22,000 in 1865, about 70,000 in the late XIXth century until its present state. In 1946, thanks to Prof. Nicola Valle, the Cabinet of Prints dedicated to Anna Marongiu Pernis (Sardnian artist, 1907- 1941) was founded.
Eminent academics, who followed one another in the direction, contributed to give the Library its form: Giacinto Hintz (Dominican friar, from about 1785 to 1820), Domenico Alberto Azuni (italian jurist, 1820- 1827),Ludovico Baylle (historian, 1827- 1839), Giovanni Spano (Canon, 1839- 1842), Pietro Martini (historian, 1842- 1865/66), Erasmo Severini (Priest, from 1881 to 1893).
From the later years of the XIXth cent., Adolfo Avetta, Arnaldo Capra, Gino Tamburini, Bianca Bruno, Renato Papò, Alberto Guarino deeply innovated the Library.
Renewals and adaptation of the building in the 80's, because of the agreement with the University on the use of the Seminary, maintenance works (disinfection, disinfestation and restauraion of books, microfilm and digitalization of a large part of fine matters) and the online connection with the National Library Service led us to the present situation.