Vatican Library Reopens

Vatican Library, Manuscript Reading Room

On 20 September the Vatican Library will reopen after a massive three years of restoration. The announcement was made in a press conference, held on 13 September in the Sistine Hall of the Vatican Museums by Cardinal Raffaele Farina S.D.B., archivist and librarian, Msgr. Cesare Pasini, prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, Pier Carlo Cuscianna, director of Technical Services of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and two representatives of "Italcementi" – the company which were responsible for the restoration, Giovanni Giavazzi and Gennaro Guala.

Over 9 million euros ($12 million US) has been spent on the three-year restoration project involving structural repair work, bringing large areas of the building into line with safety norms, and moving a number of sectors. Moreover, each of the library's 70 000 volumes has been provided with a computer chip - a readio frequencey system of identification that will help prevent theft and misplacement.

See the news from AP on YouTube here:


Look at another clip by CTV on You Tube (with a glimpse from the pressconference) here:


Another clip (by Romereports.com) here:


Also read the informative newsletter from the library here (latest issue).