In order to improve the communication and dissemination of statistical information, an integrated platform (ArchiBiblio) was created to provide information, tools, and examples aimed at the optimal use of the tools and services provided online by Istat’s Library and Historical Archives.
This view of integration between historical archive and library, which we realise through the application of non-traditional didactic strategies, is in line with the increasingly pressing demands for comprehensive information presenting the phenomenon as a whole.
In this sense we highlight:
The inventory phase of the archival fonds was also completed; all archival complexes (682) were filed in the s/w Samira, with a total of 24,223 archival units, part of which is photographic material. For the latter category, work is underway to scan and bring it online in order to enhance the historical heritage present at Istat.
The other services aimed at user satisfaction and the related dissemination of statistical information continue to be ensured, in particular the expansion of the range of digital publications available on the network. The growing interest of users in this latter service (ebiblio.istat.it) is demonstrated by the figures: the number of visits to e-Biblio in 2015 was 52,501, an increase of 27.40% over the previous year; 140,084, the number of visited pages, an increase of 40.6% over 2014.
To mark the 50th anniversary of Prof. Corrado Gini’s death, the journal Metron: 1920-1941 was scanned and placed in the digital library.
Several preparatory works were carried out to launch the celebrations, to be held in 2016, of the 90th anniversary of the founding of Istat:
- planning activities to stipulate an agreement between Istat and the Central State Archives for the valorisation and inventorying of the documentary fund of Prof. Corrado Gini
- scanning the volumes ‘Annuario statistico italiano’ edited by Cesare Correnti and Pietro Maestri: a. 1 (1857/58)-a. 2 (1864).
- editing the volume on the history of Istat through the documents and photographs in the historical archive.