Approval plan : origins, contexts and prospects of an Italian case study : Casalini Libri

Questo contributo tratta di un metodo di acquisizione libraria, l'approval plan, e di una delle poche aziende italiane attive in ambito culturale che da anni lo propone e lo pratica riscuotendo un grande successo nel mondo, e solo marginalmente in Italia. Per la stesura di questo studio, la scrivente si è basata, oltre che sulla letteratura esistente, sulla frequentazione della Casalini Libri, dove ha potuto seguire le diverse fasi di lavorazione dell'approval plan, e farsi dare spiegazioni, avere chiarimenti e intrattenere colloqui con i titolari dell'azienda e col personale direttamente coinvolto nelle varie fasi del lavoro.

The interest in digital libraries began in the early nineties of the last century, particularly in the United States. At first the argument involved a few computer scientists and some librarian. However, after the first terminological uncertainties ("electronic" library, "virtual" library, etc.), digital libraries have become an object of interdisciplinary study and today constitute a research field of LIS. Over the years there has been an evolution of topics and approaches. The earlier prevailing interest was in the management and technological aspects of digital libraries and then emerged the need to rediscover the role of digital libraries in society. This paper focuses in particular on the most recent international debate on the social value of the digital library. [Publisher's Text].

The article deals with the approval plan method of book acquisition. It discusses the implementation of the approval plan method in one of the few Italian companies active in the cultural sector that offers and provides libraries with this service for many years, enjoying huge success across the world. In preparing this essay, not only the author made valuable use of the existing literature on the topic, but also of the opportunity to spend a period of time within Casalini Libri, the company described above, where she was able to follow the different phases of the approval plan workflow, benefitting from first-hand explanations and clarification on procedures, direct contact and conversations both with approval selectors and the company directors. In order to provide a full overview of the topic, some interviews were held with various directors and heads of acquisitions and library systems of a number of Italian libraries. From this article it can be concluded that approval plans are a highly valuable acquisi

tion method still today. Although economic issues must not be ignored when determining the reasons for which libraries decide to opt for this method, the explanation lies in social and cultural aspects such as a greater international outlook and a widening of horizons within the academic institutions served by the libraries, as well as more meticulous planning by library authorities. [Publisher's Text].