Loans and reproductions
Loans for exhibition
The Biblioteca Riccardiana in Florence grants loans of materials from its collections for temporary exhibitions and high-value scientific and cultural events, both in Italy and abroad.
Requests must be addressed to the Director and submitted at least six months before the exhibition or event opens.
The request must include:
- exhibition title, opening and closing dates, and venue;
- exhibition project details, names of curators, and any scientific committee members;
- list of requested works, with precise catalog references and, for books, the specific opening page of each volume;
- facility report of the exhibition venue, dated and signed.
The library carefully evaluates requests, considering the preservation status of the materials and the security of the exhibition venue.
Maximum loan duration: approximately three months (extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis).
If denied, the library will issue a formal letter explaining the reasons.
If approved, a conditional acceptance will be sent, pending final authorization from the Directorate-General for Libraries and Copyright of the Ministero della Cultura.
Along with the approval letter, the library will send:
- a security conditions form for the exhibition venue (covering temperature, humidity, lighting, security measures, insurance details, etc.);
- the “Loan Conditions for Exhibitions” document;
- a movement sheet for each requested item, including insurance value and dimensions;
- any cost estimates for creating safety reproductions of the requested works (to be covered by the requesting institution).
Exhibition organizers must properly credit the Biblioteca Riccardiana as follows: Biblioteca Riccardiana di Firenze and for images of works, including in exhibition catalogs: su concessione del Ministero della Cultura / Biblioteca Riccardiana di Firenze.
The library reserves the right to request the immediate return of loaned works if any agreed-upon conditions are not met by the borrowing institution.
The library does not offer direct loans or interlibrary loans.
Reproductions
Photo Reproductions of Works
Reproductions of original works, microfilm, or slides may be requested for studies or publications. A fee is required if reproductions are requested for publication reasons, as per current regulations.
- Reproduction requests for study reasons (form to fill out and send)
- Reproduction rights request for commercial reasons (form to fill out and send)
- Request for photos (form to fill out and send)
Requests for reproductions must be sent to:
Biblioteca Riccardiana – Ufficio Riproduzioni at b-ricc.riproduzioni@cultura.gov.it
Personal reproduction
As per Law 124 (issued on August 4th, 2017) it is possible to make reproductions with one’s own means in compliance with the applicable copyright legislation (Law Number 108 of the Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code) as per the guidelines listed below:
In accordance with current legislation (Law issued on 4 August 2017, n. 124 Art. 1, 171, which partially modifies art. 108 D. Lgs 42/2004) the reproduction of bibliographic materials is free for the following purposes (provided they are carried out on a non-profit basis): study, research, free expression of thought, creativity, and contribution to spreading the knowledge of cultural heritage.
The free reproduction of bibliographic material as described above must be carried out exclusively in compliance with current legislation on copyright (Law issued on 22 April 1941, n. 633 and all later modifications). When reproducing written or illuminated materials, physical contact with them is not allowed, nor is their exposure to light, or the use of stands or tripods. Images of artworks and books thus legitimately reproduced can in turn be duplicated, provided they are not used for profit.
English translation by Megan Krynen (University of Mississippi – ISI Florence) and Elsa Vellone (University of Rochester – ISI Florence).