The Ricottiana Civic Library in Voghera is a precious treasure chest of knowledge, with a book heritage exceeding 145,000 units. Founded at the end of the 19th century, its history reflects the cultural evolution of the town, enriched by important donations and constant growth over time. Today, the library is a lively cultural centre, a reference point for studies, educational activities and public events.
The Ricottiana Civic Library in Voghera represents an authentic cultural treasure for the city and the province of Pavia. Founded at the end of the 19th century, its history is closely linked to local events and the generosity of important city personalities. Prominent among these is Senator Ercole Ricotti, whose conspicuous donation has indelibly marked the library‘s book heritage, so much so as to justify the ‘Ricottiana’ title proposed by director Giuseppe Mazza in 1940.
The library‘s holdings have grown steadily over the decades, incorporating funds from numerous religious libraries forfeited by the State and various bequests from illustrious citizens. Today, the Biblioteca Civica Ricottiana boasts over 145,000 bibliographic units, with approximately 50,000 volumes dating back to before 1850. Of particular value are the more than 600 works dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, tangible evidence of the historical and cultural wealth of the area.
In 1930, a significant turning point came with the construction of a special seat in a wing of a renovated convent. This new space made it possible to accommodate and further enhance the growing library holdings, which reached such proportions in the 1980s that a further move was required. In 1993, the library found its current location in the command block of the former barracks at the main entrance to the city.
The Ricottiana Civic Library is not only a place of preservation and study, but also an active cultural centre. The Children‘s Section, for example, is particularly involved in organising educational activities in cooperation with schools and other local institutions. In addition, the library is a reference point for conferences, book presentations and other cultural events, thus contributing to the intellectual and social life of Voghera.
Thanks to the reorganisation of the holdings implemented by Director Mazza starting in 1934, the library now has a bibliometric system that, although it has disrupted the original order of the holdings, allows for a modern and functional management of resources. The historical archive, separated from the library in 1976, holds a valuable photographic fund, collections of prints and autographs, bearing witness to Voghera‘s historical memory.
The Biblioteca Civica Ricottiana is therefore not only an institution of historical and juridical importance, but also a bulwark of local culture and memory, capable of offering citizens a vast collection of books and a lively cultural programme.
