L'11 maggio 1769, alla presenza dell’imperatore Giuseppe II, si inaugura la Reale Biblioteca Parmense, voluta dalla volontà politica del ministro riformista Guillaume-Lèon Du Tillot che l’aveva pensata per “en rendre public l’usage”. E’ un’istituzione prestigiosa per le raccolte bibliografiche che conserva ed è la testimonianza della precisa volontà culturale che l’ha istituita come “biblioteca di
pubblica utilità” e che ne ha fatto una realtà bibliotecaria unica per le caratteristiche di politica bibliotecaria. La Biblioteca Palatina raccoglie oggi circa un milione di volumi, tra cui 3.044 incunaboli e 11.600 edizioni del XVI sec. E ancora 370 periodici correnti, 52.479 stampe della Raccolta Ortalli e la Collezione Sp****la , fonte importante per il teatro del Siglo de Oro. La collezione originale dei manoscritti parmensi raccoglie 3880 manoscritti, compresa la Raccolta De Rossi. La più ricca e famosa collezione di manoscritti ebraici ed orientali (1432 manoscritti e 1464 libri a stampa). La collezione dei manoscritti palatini è una preziosa parte della biblioteca privata dei Borbone e conserva 863 manoscritti. PALATINA LIBRARY
The historical Palatina library is in the heart of the town, only a short distance from the cathedral and the baptistery and is located in the Pilotta Palace, next to the Farnese Theatre and the National Gallery. The Palatina is the most important library in town; while preserving a rich rare book collection, it is particularly oriented towards the activities of the university of Parma and to the needs of the students. The Palatina Library was funded in the 18th century, under the dukes of Bourbon. It greatly benefited from the enlightened direction of Paolo Maria Paciaudi, a friar and a librarian, who ordered the material into six classes and compiled the first card catalogue. A second boost came in the 19th century during the reign of Napoleon’s wife Marie-Louise, duchess of Parma, when the director Angelo Pezzana enriched the library with acquisitions of exceptional value. The Palatina Library was named after Apollus Palatinus and from the very beginning it was situated in the never completed Farnese Palace. The French architect Petitot was called to design the Reading Room and we can still admire his original shelves, partly damaged during the Second World War but now completely restored. Correggio’s preparatory sketch for the Incoronata fresco - now at the National Gallery - gives the name to the second room. Another room was built and decorated under the reign of the duchess Marie-Louise, commemorated in an impressive statue by Canova. Collection
The library has now about a million of books, among which there are 3,044 incunabula and some 11,600 16th-century editions. There are 370 current periodicals, 52,479 prints and drawings - the Ortalli Collection is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. There is a unique musical section of 150,000 books, 30,340 manuscripts and 45 periodicals and it is hosted in the Conservatorio A. The Spanish collection is a comprehensive source for the Siglo de Oro theatre. The Palatino manuscript collection was once the most precious part of the private library of the Bourbon-Parmas (863 manuscripts); it now has quite a few books of hours and rarities such as an 11th-century gospel and the Longobard Law. The original collection of Parma manuscripts has 3880 manuscripts, including The Raccolta De Rossi , the richest and the best known collection of oriental - particularly Hebrew – manuscripts (1432 manuscripts and 1464 printed books)