Debate over private management of Italy's National Library

A debate has emerged on Artribune regarding the potential private management of a National Library in Italy. Stefano Monti proposed that a private entity could build and run a National Library, generating profit while serving public functions. Luca Bellingeri, a former official at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, countered that private management cannot fulfill core duties like collecting and preserving the nation's entire editorial output, providing national bibliographic services, and ensuring long-term digital preservation. He cited economic sustainability issues, estimating annual costs between 10-12 million euros, and noted a similar past initiative failed. Monti responded, thanking for the debate and arguing that if private entities can perform functions as well as public ones, the only obstacle is economic sustainability, which can be achieved. He invited further structured discussion.