An unexpected role for Cesare Segre: library director (1968-1975)

Abstract

From 1968 to 1975 Cesare Segre was director of the library of the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Pavia. On two separate occasions (in 1971 and 1973) he handed in his notice ‒ then retracted ‒ before finally and irrevocably leaving the position in 1975. His resignation letters ‒ shown here in their entirety ‒ examined together with other unpublished documents shed light on a little-known aspect of his activity at Pavia University and outline a history of the Faculty library during the period under consideration: emerge frequent difficulties in regulating access to the library, in protecting library property, in managing the collections and in personnel organization.