Incunabula in Catania I and II: case study of a crowdfunding campaign as a participation tool

Abstract

The paper aims at presenting some reflections drawn from the analysis of the data extracted from two crowdfunding projects. The latter were started to financially support the publication of two catalogues: Incunaboli a Catania I: Biblioteche riunite “Civica e A. Ursino Recupero” (2018) and Incunaboli a Catania II: Biblioteca regionale universitaria (2021). Close attention is given to the strategies enacted to foster the valorization of two libraries and a portion of their bibliographic heritage within the framework of an ongoing research project; among its goals is serving as tool to promote participation in and sharing of libraries as common goods. Data analysis is conducted through the lens of cultural sociology.