Ranganathan’s Legacy in Italy (2009-2023)

To the best of our knowledge, Ranganathan never physically visited Italian libraries. However, records studied by Alberto Petrucciani confirm his communication with a select group of Italian librarians. Notably, his influence extended beyond mere correspondence, as evidenced by his pivotal role in the decision to host the 1951 IFLA congress in Rome, Italy, instead of Copenhagen, The Netherlands (as reported by Enrico Ardolino). For an extended period, Ranganathan's life and contributions remained overlooked in Italy. Recognition finally dawned on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Ranganathan’s passing, marked by a commemorative tribute published in the Bollettino AIB, the journal of the Italian Library Association, in 1992. The turning point in introducing Ranganathan to the Italian literary landscape came with the publication of Italian translations of his seminal works: Il servizio di reference [Reference Service] (Florence, Le Lettere, 2009) and Le cinque leggi della biblioteconomia [The Five Laws of Library Science] (Florence, Le Lettere, 2010). These translations not only facilitated the dissemination of Ranganathan’s ideas in Italy but also marked the beginning of a steadily increasing awareness of his legacy. This contribution aims to chronicle the presence and diffusion of Ranganathan's ideas in Italian LIS literature. It spans various events, including occasions, celebrations, conferences, and tributes dedicated to the esteemed Indian Librarian, from the initial publication of Italian translations to the contemporary landscape.