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Involved people at OAB:
The year 2001 saw our library make a considerable effort to gain full operativity for the new staff unit (contractor), which was obtained soon, and at the same time to carry on new projects, both at national and local level.
As for the second, our library had a primary role in the development of a national analysis of the use of scientific serials in the Italian astronomical libraries. This study led to the presentation of a paper at the national meeting of Italian astronomy librarians, held in Cagliari on 5-6th June, 2001. The final goal of this analysis, which is being completed at present, is to evaluate the possibility of starting national cooperation in buying astronomical serials, something which the official coming into force of INAF is expected to make easier.
At the beginning of the year, the web page of our library was completely renewed in content and graphics. This was made after a wide consultation of the scientific staff of both Astronomical Observatory and Department of Astronomy.
Books were bought in a considerable amount, on request of our researchers:
a hundred books on behalf of the Astronomical Observatory and almost 60
for the professors of the Department of Astronomy (books were also received
as gifts, for a total amount of 
). These works are valuable both
for being new and highly representative books in the field, and because of
their considerable value: about 7,000 euros only for as much as the
Observatory is concerned.
All of these books were made available on the two national online catalogues
(SBN and CUBAI) as well as inventoried in the new and improved inventory
database which was provided at the beginning of the year.
Other, less recent works were included in the national catalogue SBN, in a
continuing effort to improve the www availability of the whole library
stock.
A special care was taken in maintaining the funcionality of the burglar
alarm, for preventing thefts; selling conditions were also re-examined,
for obtaining the highest possible saving from suppliers.
As for the ancient books collection, it was frequently consulted and some of the books have contributed to the exhibition ``Il mondo in ordine", held in Bologna.
Serials - about 90 on the whole - were managed as usual, including the maintaining of the specific national catalogue; particular care was taken in making (and keeping) the majority of them available in online mode. A special and time-consuming initiative was the inventory check-up of past years of most serials, which took place during the summer.
Well-appreciated services have remained the document delivery service (almost 90 serial articles were sent to other libraries or requested for our researchers) and the inter-library book loan. Obviously enough, because of the considerably high number of students of the Astronomy degree course, the book loans are an important part of the daily routine. The registered users (local and from the outside) have increased to almost 800.
Serials binding, loan claims and training of part-time students employed in the library complete the list of other ordinary activities.
The staff is still composed by Marina Zuccoli (Chief librarian, Dept. of Astronomy), Pietro Candelaresi (Dept. of Astronomy), Monica Marra (Bologna Astronomical Observatory) and Katia Alboresi (Bologna A.O., contractor).