the special library at monastero di san benedetto norcia, italy

The Special Library atMonastero di San Benedetto

Norcia, Italy

The Client

• A newly founded community of Benedictine monks at the historic birthplace of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica (480 A.D.)

• Norcia (ancient Nursia) is located in Umbria, a mountainous region in central Italy best known for skiing, saints, and truffles

The Client

• The Benedictines are the oldest religious order, dedicating their lives to prayer and work within the context of a religious community

• The Rule of St. Benedict is the authoritative document which directs monastic life. Various chapters lay out daily and seasonal schedules.

• See http://www.osbnorcia.org for fuller detail

The Client

• Benedictines take 3 vows: stability, conversion of life, and obedience

• FYI, Technically speaking, there is no such thing as a “vow of silence”, but monastics are encouraged to speak only as necessary and to maintain interior silence.

The ClientBenedictine monks have historically been associated with education and the copying of texts.

The image to the right originates from an 11th century illuminated manuscript from the Abbey at Monte Cassino.

The text can be translated as follows: “Along with the buildings receive, O Father, the many wondrous books.”Abbot Desiderius to St. Benedict in allegorical illustration

The Client as reader

• Today reading remains an essential element in the lives of monastic men and women

• Scholarship among monastics is highly valued• Many monasteries operate schools• The Rule of St. Benedict gives specific direction on

reading• Lectio Divina or holy reading is a daily practice

which advances the lifelong spiritual formation of the monk

The ClientWhen this particular community of monks relocated from Rome to Norcia in 2000, one of the top priorities was to establish a library.

The community began with about 1,000 volumes or so, but these books were stored on scattered shelves throughout the monastery or in unopened boxes.

The ClientToday the library’s custom made wooden shelves are full, holding approximately 5,000 volumes with an additional 9,000 volumes in storage awaiting cataloging.

The San Benedetto monastery is considering opening a graduate institute in monastic studies.

An Ongoing Project

• The invitation, 2000• First visit to the site, 2001• Limits to one’s own knowledge and the need

to create a professional team

Identifying Needs

• Selecting a cataloging software• Deciding on a Classification system• Placement of general and sub-collections

Catalog Options

• Options: Microsoft applications, UNESCO kit, XML with Library of Congress DTDs, or commercial products

• Preference for record sharing capacity• Preference for professional classification

standard

Product Selection

• LexWin was selected based upon cost , functionality, and ease of use.

• Sample version is downloadable • MARC records may be imported and exported• Available from http://www.lex.sk.ca

LexWin

Classification System

• Any system could have been used• Librarians were most familiar with LC• Under consideration: Accession system, LC, &

DDC• Selection criteria: recognizable to client,

compatible with local, national, and international standards

• SBN Online and municipal neighbor

Organizing an Efficient Workflow

• Bibliographic lists containing ISBN, author, title, publisher, and year were the basic elements needed to begin searches for MARC code

• “Ragazzi” visiting the monastery created these lists for us

• We used online utilities such as the Library of Congress Online Catalog and WorldCat to obtain MARC code.

• Not all books have corresponding code, necessitating “original cataloging”

Workflow

• After arriving in Italy, MARC records are imported to the cataloged

• Each record is then scrutinized against the physical item to ensure accurate descriptive information

• Where Dewey call numbers are not available, subject headings are used to determine appropriate call numbers

• Book processing and shelving is done by any able body (ragazzi, monks, librarians)

Problems

• The monks realized they needed access to heavily used materials that were shelved in the general collection

• Monks state that they cannot find books they believe they own

• The LexWin circulation module has not been activated. Who has what?

• Donations arrive on a regular basis and there is no on-site librarian

Traditions11am Mandatory walk across the piazza for cappuccino

1:00pm Pranzo followed by siesta3:00pm Return to work

Gita – occasional getaway to see a little of the country. Norcia is about an hour’s drive from Spoleto, Assisi, or Perugia. Rome is a three-hour ride. Pictured: Plain beneath Castelluccio.

What I’ve learned about special libraries

• Library standards are best adapted to client needs (not the other way around)

• Funding for positions or materials may not be an institutional priority (use of volunteers, donors)

• These can house very focused collections to serve the mission of the institution (not open to the general public)

• Even you or I can start one (with a little help)