Beyond Rome: some notes about Filippo Mariotti’s ideas on libraries

Abstract

The article presents the figure of Filippo Mariotti (1833-1911) and examines his promotion of Italian libraries during his long parliamentary activity, both as a deputy and as a senator.
Although Mariotti thought about libraries mainly in relation to the protection of cultural heritage, he was able to grasp and formulate themes of interest even in a modern perspective. For example, he was concerned about the territorial dimension of libraries and the need for coordination between institutions, which had to be achieved within the framework of an organic national legislation.