Civic Library

The “Giovanni Ferrero” Civic Library is one of Alba and the hub of the Langhe Library System , which brings together 39 municipalities and 4 associations . It is located in the Maddalena Complex , in the heart of the city (entrance at Via Vittorio Emanuele II 19 ), and combines consultation with a continuous calendar of activities, services, and initiatives for a variety of audiences.

The history of the library is intertwined with that of the city: the existence of a public library in Alba is documented at least since 1868 , when the municipality adopted a provisional regulation for the civic library in the city college (now a classical high school). In 1870 the collection grew thanks to books lent for use by the Philharmonic-Literary Academy and, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the library was named after Michele Coppino . In 1960 it was renovated (thanks also to the contribution of Ottavia Amerio ) and dedicated to Giovanni Ferrero ; after a temporary location in San Secondo , since 1971 it has been housed in the Palazzo della Maddalena and in 1987 the premises were completely renovated based on a design by the architect Ugo Dellapiana .

One of its most “contemporary library” features is the open shelf : a large part of the collection is directly accessible and the volumes are arranged by subject according to the Dewey Decimal Classification , thus allowing users to freely choose what to consult and what to borrow.

Inside the “Giovanni Ferrero” Civic Library it is possible to find, among other things:

• a local section dedicated to the city and the territory (Langhe, Roero and Alba area), useful for research, study and city memory
• reception spaces and services (loan desk, information) and areas dedicated to new products and small exhibitions
• a "relaxation" area and a newspaper library for newspapers and periodicals
• adults section , children's section , audio-video section and a consultation area with encyclopedias and major works