The Vatican Library restoration

Having been in operation for over 500 years, since 1450’s, it didn’t come as a surprise when Vatican chief library Cardinal Raffele Farina announced that major restoration works where required in the library to ensure that the precious collections and art works were adequately preserved for many more years to come.

This announcement caused some disappointment in the academic community as they had to suspend their research while its collections of tens of thousands of volumes were in storage; however, the reasons for the closure were well received and understood.

The renovation works were completed in September 2010, and the library reopened its door almost three years after the extensive renovation process started. In an appreciation address to the academic community, Cardinal Farina acknowledge the inconvenience experienced but in its words: "Given the amount of what had to be done — the noise and the intrusiveness of the technical and construction work necessary — we decided the library inevitably had to close, but this is now allowing the academic and research community to enjoy n improved library experience a better access to the vast collections available.

 The extends of the works that costed and estimated US$ 11.5 million was mainly oriented to art works restoration  as well as the installation of climate-controlled rooms , state-of-the-art security measures to prevent theft and loss and also reconstruction works.

I have included below some of the important facts about the restoration works that caught my attention, and which can explain why the amount spent went over the millions of dollars:

§  Improve cataloguing system

§  The library's 70,000 books were outfitted with computer chips to prevent them being lost or stolen.

§  A full CCTV (Closed-circuit cameras) was installed.

§  A new automated entry and exit gates keep tabs on who is coming in and going out.

§  Improved communications and elevator access to the Vatican's collections.

§  A climate control bomb-proof bunker, with fire-proof and dust-proof floors and walls to store and protect ancient manuscripts.

§  A new tower inside the Vatican's Belvedere Courtyard to ferry manuscripts from their bomb-proof bunker to climate-controlled consultation rooms.

§  New set of strict working procedures regulations in the library that prohibits items checked out as well as No pens, food or even mineral water are allowed in the manuscript reading room.

In my opinion the Christian community has to thank the Vatican initiative for going to such extent in protecting all the Christian history and tradition preserved in the library, with the certainty that such a precious treasures are very well look after and protected.

Research Process

Starting with my last 6 blogs corresponding to Task 3, I have continued to relay in the WEB for searching information in the different Catholic Agencies and other electronic communication media to find the relevant material for my posts.

Although I have spent in average 3 – 4 hours researching and reading about the topics I selected I found that the information is repeated many times in different websites what makes a little bit difficult to find more details on the nature of the works conducted. Even though, the posts containing some very interesting facts that I also summarized in an easy reading form in my blog.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Praise be! Stunning L7.5m restoration of Vatican library unveiled, Mail On Line, viewed 14 October 2011,  <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311945/Stunning-Vatican-library-reopening-years-7-5m-restoration.html> 

Winfield N 2010, Vatican Library reopens after 3 year restoration, Associated Press, Viewed on 14 October 2011, <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39193265/ns/travel-destination_travel/t/vatican-library-reopens-after--year-restoration/>

PB 2010 , ‘The Church of Rome from Its Beginning Is Linked to Books, ZENIT, 12 November 2010, Viewed on 14 October 2011,  <http://www.zenit.org/article-30940?l=english>

RomeReports 2010, Vatican Library will reopen September 20 with a new security system, 23 July ,  Viewed on 14 October 2011,

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEhRrlX2uA&noredirect=1>