In 1967 the Biblioteca Popolare acquired a new and larger seat in Palazzo
Montanari, at 8, via Galliera. It also changed name, becoming the Public Central
Branch Library of Archiginnasio, and was given a clearer general information
and contemporary character. The collection represented all subjects, with a
special focus on local studies and both on Italian and foreign fiction. In a
few uears, in the Seventies, the premises became once again inadequate, with
too little room for readers, collection and service development. Until 1991
the library ran the Civic Libraries Direction, responsible for setting up new
branch libraries, cataloguing their collection, preparing new acquisitions and
periodicals bulletins.
From July 1944 to the 14th of September 1949 the Biblioteca Popolare was hosted
in Piazza Calderini, 2/2°. Those were difficult years: the library was often
closed and loan service was provided only for a few hours per day: the city
was facing hard times, due to post-war reconstruction problems. Things started
getting better from September 1949, when the library was moved to via de’
Foscherari.