Program Overview

BIBLIOGRAPHY, LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Overview

The focus of the course is to understand and improve principal and basic skills to manage and valorize a bibliographic collection in a library. From the classical theories to the present Library science, the course proposes the most important application principles of library science and digital library. Bibliography and Information science will complete the framework of the discipline.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

Aim of the course is acquiring knowledge and skills in Bibliography and History of Catalogs, History of Libraries, Theories and techniques of cataloguing (international standards and application in SBN), Library Management, Digital Library, Documentation Theory. The topics will be dealt with both from a conceptual point of view and, where possible, from a practical point of view, focusing attention on the evolution of library science as a theoretical and applied science.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to have knowledge about: history of libraries; bibliography; library science, digital library and library management; SBN cataloguing rules (only 9-credit option).

Prerequisites

Not required

Teaching Methods

Lessons (60 hours of teaching) are held in presence. Attendance, although not mandatory, is recommended. Only students who participate in the lessons in presence are considered attending.

Syllabus/Content

Main topics covered in the lessons:

• What is Library Science?
• Bibliographia, an inquiry into its definition and designations.
• Types of Libraries – Academic, Public, Special and National.
• Public Library: Functions and Objectives.
• Historical Development of Libraries.
• Library Management. Book Selection Tools and Principles, Library Acquisition, Circulation, Maintenance and Stock Verification.
• The Care and Handling of library Material (with references to the main Italian legislation governing the protection of cultural heritage).
• Reference and Information Services.
• Exhibits and Loans for external exhibitions (with guided tours and meetings with the curators).
• Digital Library.
• Reference and Information Sources.
• Research Methodology.
• Bibliographic Citation.
• The Library Catalogues.
• Library Legislation and Library Acts: Legal Deposit, Copyright Law, Code of the Cultural and Landscape Heritage.
• Cataloging Tools and Resources. Standards of Bibliographic Record Formats and Description. Authority Control. Mapping of Subjects in Library Classification Schemes.
• Cataloguing Exercises.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

See the bibliography in Italian.

Teachers and Exam Board

• Emanuela Ferro
  • Office Hours: The teacher receives by appointment.
• Exam Board:
  • Emanuela Ferro (President)
  • Stefano Gardini
  • Sandra Macchiavello (Substitute)

Lessons

Lessons Start

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Class Schedule

The timetable for this course is available.

Exams

Exam Description

Oral examination, that includes:

• presentation on a prepared topic
• interviews or discussions to assess a student's knowledge or skills
• homework assignments: final presentation
• cataloging exercise (only for the 9 CFU course)

Assessment Methods

The exam will focus on the topics of the course, the commission will evaluate the achievement of teaching objectives (at the level of minimum skills or excellence), verifying if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge.

Exam Schedule

• Date: 25/05/2026, Time: 10:00, Location: GENOVA, Degree type: Orale
• Date: 09/06/2026, Time: 10:00, Location: GENOVA, Degree type: Orale
• Date: 14/07/2026, Time: 10:00, Location: GENOVA, Degree type: Orale
• Date: 08/09/2026, Time: 10:00, Location: GENOVA, Degree type: Orale