What we found out

Project objectives Tweet

The European Union has provided the municipality of Bisceglie with almost one and a half million euros in order to finance the enhancement of the Cultural Heritage through the improvement of the Bisceglie library system. The goal is the modernization of the already existing municipal library in the former monastery complex Holy Cross and the opening of a new library at Villa Angelica, in the s.Andrew area.
Our research can help to get the word out about the project, especially for young people, but also to involve as many citizens as possible in a cultural venture.

Foreseen activities

The project involves the renovation of the municipal library in the city centre and the opening of a headquarters in the peripheral area. Regarding the expected timing, the start of the works was estimated on 31/12/2018 but they actually started on 08/07/2019. The end was scheduled for 10/30/2022 but to date, the work has not been completed. This delay was a consequence of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine that blocked the influx of materials and increased the costs of the latter.

Project origin

The project originates with "Smart-in Puglia", a strategy for relaunching cultural heritage, whose objectives are: the birth of a "community library", a creative emporium, historic theatres and a laboratory of enjoyment. Unfortunately, the funds focussed exclusively on the library, so the other options were shelved. In addition, the project was influenced by the POR (Regional Operational Program) and in particular the VI axis, which provides for the protection of the environment and the maintenance of school and university libraries.

Beneficiaries

The entire community of the city of Bisceglie can benefit from the new library, as it is a point of reference for students that might be looking for a quiet place where they can carry out their activities or for those who are interested in reading up on the cultural traditions of the city and its history, taking advantage of a vast amount of information, documents and activities, pertinent to the different information needs that arise in each of us' daily life.
The the aim is that percentage of citizens who are not yet regular users of the library and who will be able to find in the New Municipal Library a supply that meets their own demands.

Context

The library "Villa Angelica" has been designed to promote books and readings to the youth. It can be hypotised to work with school libraries or the archives in the "Universo Salute" facility, but also with local shows, theaters and events.The project has the ambition to create a modern quality public library, capable of satisfying the needs of information and general consultation. The challenge is to manage to give birth to an all around cultural service in order to bring together both the citizens' needs and a place where it is enjoyable to go and spend time.

Progress

The monitored project is in a state of completion. By the beginning of the new school year there will be the inauguration. The peripheral headquarters was recently opened and we participated in the inauguration, exposing our project to the mayor of Bisceglie. Villa Angelica is operational and already hosts afternoon meetings. Moreover, we had the pleasure of talking with Professor Leuci, head of "The Readers' Circle", who explained us the functions of the library and how it is managed by the association. Then, we asked the architect Losapio, spokesman for the municipality regarding the project, and he gave us more information about the library, the opening, why the works have not yet been completed and explained to us that the funds are intended exclusively for renovation.

Results

The result of the new library is to create an all-round cultural service, a modern and up-to-date library that becomes a point of reference for all citizens, for all age groups. A service capable of meeting general information and consultation needs and being digitally updated.
A precise division of spaces was made, to give everyone the opportunity to carry out the activities in the right places. In fact, a wine shop has been created for those who simply want to read a newspaper and there is another area for those who have to study. The information was taken from the pdf regarding the library on the municipality's website and from the interview with the architect Losapio.

Risks

One of the risks for the project is that the library's amount of users might be lower than the number expected; another issue that might rise is that an uncareful usage of the spaces and items made available to the public could lead to damage to the facility and society.

Investigation method

How was the information collected?

• Web research
• Visit to the project's location, documented by pictures or videos
• Interview with people responsible for the project's planning
• Interview with people responsible for the project's implementation
• Interview with political leaders

Firstly we tried to get in contact with the town hall and nobody responded, but we managed to get in contact with the architect Giacomo Losapio, who acted as representative. We also talked to Rosa Leuci, the woman in charge of the circle of readers and the library's current manager.

Main questions

Question 1: Have books already been bought? If so, with the European funds? (architect Giacomo Losapio, Division Planning Infrastructure
Programs of the City of Bisceglie manager)
Question 2: When is the official opening scheduled? (architect Giacomo Losapio, Division Planning Infrastructure
Programs of the City of Bisceglie manager)

Main answers

Answer to question 1:"The books have always been bought by the municipality, regardless of the project, it is not connected to the renovation. The library has always existed in Bisceglie, so money are destined to the purchase of books every year in the municipality's financial statement. The EU's money have all been destined to actions in the renovation of the facilities themselves."
Answer to question 2:"The project began in 2019, but we're still working on it in 2023. Why? Despite the great quick start, the work has had an abrupt stop due to the global pandemic, as every public work has been suspended for about a year and a half. Meanwhile the company that won the tender procedures has had economical problems, because of the increase of prices after the covid situation. Fortunately we could withdraw from the previous contract and hire the company that was second place in the tender. We just finished the work at Villa Angelica, although the opening has been quite difficult. We picked some people doing community service to do the cleanings and the "Circolo dei Lettori" to manage it. The villa also got vandalised right before the opening, so we had to clean it once more. Meanwhile the procedures at the Holy Cross were going at a fast pace, but some materials were no longer available due to the Ukraine war's trade issues. Everything has been slowed down and we couldn't do anything about it, but we expect to reopen the main library at the bebinning of the next school year, about September or October."