Civic Library Educational Activities

1. In-person guided visits: guided visits, which serve to introduce the library and its services to children, are a very important service and a meaningful experience for class groups. They take place in the mornings and must be booked well in advance. Due to Covid-19 containment measures, the library can currently accommodate a maximum of 20 people (including the librarian) in its rooms and this unfortunately, limits access to large classes or classes with special needs. Duration: 90 minutes.
2. Online guided tours: again, by prior arrangement and for special requirements, it is possible to organise a virtual tour lasting 45 minutes for primary and lower-secondary school class groups.
3. Reading itineraries: schools can request bibliographical advice for special study or research needs.
4. External lending for class groups: this type of lending is possible if each child in the class group is registered with the library or if the class itself is registered; without these requirements it is not possible.
5. Meetings with authors and training: opportunities are organised for schools to meet children and young people’s author and training activities for teachers and experts in the field.
6. Antique Books: as part of its services to children, for over 25 years the library has offered a much-appreciated in-presence itinerary on the history of ancient books, using the treasures preserved in its rich historical collections. The itinerary is part of the library’s policies aimed at collaborating with local schools and universities. Called “This book, a flock of sheep”, the itinerary is modulated and different depending on the age of the recipients and upon request, adapted to the theme proposed by the teachers in relation to the school curriculum. To date, it has involved over 250 classes from primary to secondary schools in the city and province, as well as numerous university students from the region. During the tour, it is possible to admire ancient manuscripts and printed books up close, understanding their characteristics and evolution through a captivating and engaging narrative thread. “This book, a flock of sheep” was presented at Bologna Children’s Book Fair as a virtuous example of how young people can approach old books. INFO: Booking required (biblioteca.centrale@comune.fermo.it). Venue: Civic Library – Head Office. Duration: approx. 1 hour. Maximum number of participants: 20
7. Do-it-yourself library: this activity, aimed at middle and higher-secondary schools, proposes a bibliographic research literacy approach, illustrating the rudiments of cataloguing and on-line research, explaining how to place and subdivide documents on open shelves according to the Dewey system. In an itinerary that takes them through the history of the library and bibliography, students learn digital content useful for research, through modern technologies – OPAC and digital libraries – and through traditional tools and knowledge of the librarian’s working methods.
8. Fermo loves Wiki: one of the library’s external projects concerns collaboration with the shared culture platform headed by Wikimedia Italia. Over the years, collaborations have multiplied with the latter, expanding not only the number of encyclopaedic entries on the city, but also the number of editors, going so far as to involve even lower-secondary school pupils in shared universal school projects.
9. Born to Read: Fermo Children’s Library joined the national NpL project in the year 2000, became a presidium and a driving force behind the mission and activities for the promotion of shared reading at pre-school age (0-6 years), as described on the website www.natiperleggere.it.
10. NpL Volunteers: a large group of NpL Volunteers taketurns every week to work with families and read stories to their children, organising:
    • every Tuesday afternoon, weekly shared reading appointments (book by e-mail or phone), in the winter months inside the venue and outside in good weather and during the summer months (space at the front or public gardens);
    • training courses for NpL volunteers;
    • refresher courses, with experts, for parents.
11. The service par excellence, aimed specifically at under-14s, is the Children’s Library, located on the ground floor of Romolo Spezioli Civic Library.

From the computerised catalogue, it is possible to access the entire Children’s Library, located in this place that is undisputedly child and young people-friendly, with an area dedicated to early childhood (0-5 years), one to children aged 6 to 10 years and one dedicated to adolescents aged 11 to 14.

The library organises many initiatives including animated readings, workshops and projects to bring people closer to books, such as “Born to read”. These initiatives project a space that boasts centuries of life behind it into the future.

How the Children’s Library works

Library admission is free, but registration is required to access the services. Registration is free of charge and lasts for a year.

There are two registration methods:

• come to the library with an accompanying adult
• come to the library without an adult BUT with your valid ID and an ID belonging to one of your parents, along with a signed power of attorney authorising you to register.

User Services

1. Reading and studying: you can come to the library to study or do research.
2. Book search: if you need a book, ask the librarian or consult the ONLINE CATALOGUE at www.bibliomarchesud.it from home and book it.
3. Home loan: you can borrow 3 books and keep them for 1 MONTH! Before the deadline, if you wish to extend the loan period, you can phone or email the library and request an extension for another 15 days.
4. Book and reading promotions: through many MEETINGS WITH AUTHORS events, the presentation of new books and a significant book purchase activity (for example, NpL section, INBOOK inclusive books, children’s art section, etc.) the library tries to reach all types of users, with maximum sharing of resources and information.
5. Animated reading events: pre-booked meetings that take place throughout the year and at particular times and occasions (Christmas, etc.).
6. Workshop activities with experts: periodic meetings, by appointment, with writers, artists, musicians, etc.
7. Libringiro Library Bus: an itinerant summer lending service (July-August) along the Fermo and San Giorgio coastline, in collaboration with the municipality of Porto San Giorgio.
8. Reading advice: the librarian is on hand to help you choose the right book for you!