Narration of author's visit to the libraries of Florence, Italy, focuses on city, provincial, and national libraries, including the Laurentian Library, Biblioteca Communale Centrale (city), Biblioteca Marucelliana (regional), and Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale (national). Conversations with the directors of each library are highlighted. (EJS)

The author examines reasons why, historically and currently, a great deal of controversy in Italian education focuses on the provision of textbooks. He discusses such issues as single national textbooks, participation in selection, effects on teaching methods, provision of class libraries, and the requirement that parents pay for textbooks. (SJL)