Natural Sciences Centre's library of Prato

The library of the Centre of Natural Sciences has publications ranging in various disciplines of natural sciences, in particular hose relating go topics of scientific or biological arguments, with several books on veterinary medicine, zoology, entomology, ethology, botany, or on environmental themes, with publications relating to pollution, energy, geography, ecology, climate and environmental conservation. All these publications are closely linked to those activities of preservation and protection which the Centre is institutionally responsible.

The library of the Centre also collects numerous other publications ranging from geology, palaeontology, political and environmental economics to the problems of industrial growth in the sustainable development.
Of particular importance is undoubtedly the considerable documentation ( scientific reports, reports, conference folders, extracts, lithographed material, brochures, etc.) regarding Prato and its territory. In it are well documented local issues on environment, such as the debate on nuclear power in reference to the Pec del Bacino del Brasimone and the establishment of the Parco del Monteferrato.

The bibliographic heritage includes 450 books and pamphlets, journals, conference proceedings, studies and research, etc. , to which must be added 15000 slides, videos and environmental data on digital archives.

The users are represented mostly by students and teachers who find in the specialized library books, journals, conference proceedings, collections of press releases, new materials also produced by the same centre, computer data, etc., on environmental issues and aspects of the Prato area.

A considerable part of the library is aimed at young people. It allows them to meet directly with environmental problems, and they also develop a culture of conservation that should be cultivated form the earliest years of life. Just for kids, for elementary and middle schools, the library of the Centre distributes information material and packages containing small samples of rock, plants, etc., necessary and essential for a better understanding of the development of the primary environmental and natural elements.

The online-catalogue, which includes 750 titles, is available independently and integrated into the collective catalogue of the documentary resources of the province.