In 1990 the Town Council launched a project called Piazza Maggiore Urban
Park, which included renovation of various squares and buildings in central
Bologna. The former Sala Borsa (Corn Exchange) was one of them, designed as
a covered “piazza” (square) and seat for cultural institutions. Guidelines
to renew the Central Library and move it to Sala Borsa were outlined by three
important intellectuals: they suggested the creation of a “city of knowledge”,
a large media library, with room for leisure, a “caffé all’italiana”
moulded on Venice Caffè Florian, and a videogames museum. As archeological
excavations had been carried out under the central hall, crystal floor “windows”
were designed for showing them.
In 1995 the realization of Sala Borsa Library became a mainstay in “Bologna
2000”, a major European project for cultural cities to celebrate the new
millenium. The working plan and project management were set, the mission stated:
Sala Borsa would be a contemporary library, fully accessible and tuned in to
users of any age, study level, cultural background; collections should be readily
updated; a special focus was put on multimedia communication and new technology.
The Sala Borsa Library opened to the public on December 12, 2001. Every day
more than 4,000 visitors cross its doors.