The Rossani. Library of the Mediterranean. The new regional library hub in Bari

Abstract

The paper article presents the project of “Rossani. BiblioTeca del Mediterraneo”, the new Regional Library Hub of Bari, examined as a cultural and social infrastructure within a broader process of urban regeneration and reorganization of the regional library system of Puglia. The contribution outlines the integration of different institutions and collections and discusses the library profile of the Hub, its service model, and the relationship between spatial design and cultural mediation. Particular attention is given to spatial flexibility, the distinction between preservation functions and the contemporary public library, and the role of librarianship as a practice of inclusion and participation. The Rossani project is interpreted as a model of a first- and second-level public library, capable of acting as a strategic node for innovation and coordination within the regional context.