COLLECTION OF THE CORREALE DI TERRANOVA MUSEUM LIBRARY

LATTER END

Given today’s declining belief in utopia, convinced as we are that without dreams building reality is impossible, the publicationof “Le cinquecentine della Biblioteca del Museo Correale” demonstrates that utopia, in certain conditions, can be achieved: if we imagine that, over ninety years since its foundation, thanks to contributionsfrom the Museums and Libraries Department of the Campania regional government, the Correale library has now produced a secondbook (the first being “L’Erbario essiccato” - Dried Herbarium - in 2006) on its antique book collection, the task forming part of the Correale Museum Library’s strategic activity, also in terms of fully implementing its institutional duty to protect the antique book heritage. Antique books always have an overwhelming magnetism that any bibliophile worth his salt is incapable of resisting. Discovering the world hidden behind that timeworn, mistreated cover, browsing its pages, imagining how the author, his words, thoughts and ideas sought to live again, beyond the realmsof time. True that these are niche products,but even the darkest of niches should be brought to light.In terms of protection and validation, therefore, the sphere of interest extends towardsthe cultural factor, in effect protecting and validating bibliographic and documentary material of rare and considerablehistoric interest on a par with other cultural heritages, and thereby promoting and validating the local identity, language and culture. From this point of view it is worthwhile pursuing validation ofthe bibliographic and documentary heritage by promoting other exhibition, studies and research, documentation and reproduction initiatives, also in external collaboration and contribution formats. I would lastly like to remind readersthat antique books are not mere texts, but “objects” offering other values, occasionally more important than the texts themselves: of prime importanceare the writing and printing, decoration and illustration (illumination or engraving), bookbinding art and exemplaryfeatures. Pinpointing these values, unique elements of the books and documents, particularly through special catalogues and exhibitions, forms part of the educational and social purpose of a library which,under these terms, either completely or in part, takes on the spect of a museum. Recognising the irreplaceablerole of the library has to urge local people to actually appreciate and visit it, as a place of preservation of so much priceless material, and therefore a place filled with memories and learning.