20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

268 Maria Danilovnumber of books – 723 exemplars. For comparison: according to ChisinauPublic Library (founded on August 19, 1832) catalogue prepared at the endof year 1833, it tenures only 552 volumes. Only after 15 years the numberof books raises up to 2 644.Province officials were both surprised and pleased by generousintention of laird Dimitrie Carastati. On May, 25, 1833 the Lord Lairddisposed to laird Nicolae Demi, to Ioan Galanu and assessor of assemblyNicolae Hartia to receipt the books donated by laird Dimitrie Carastati 5 .The task delegated to them – to catalogue the books – wasn’t easy at all,fact confirmed by their report to Ion Dimitriu on November, 6 1833 (nr.472):Report. Following official directives from May, 25 this year – nr. 1240,1241 and 1242 – we were in charge to make a detailed catalogue ofbooks collection donated on behalf of young people from Bessarabianschools by laird Dimitrie Carastati. We are honored to inform you thatwe identified tomes written in Hellenic, Latin, French, German, Englishand few in Russian. Moreover: was ascertained there were only 2707exemplars in boxes, instead of declared 2723 tomes. This Catalogue isconfirmed by our signatures and before presenting it to Your Highnesswe dared to advance it for approval also in Laird Assembly. DimitrieCarastati donated these books with condition that any successor ofDimitrie Govdela can take these books from beneficiary institutionafter credit reimbursement 6 . Since the Catalogue contains 1414 tomesin Hellenic, including 420 tomes of mathematics, 833 – FrenchGrammatics, 174 – practical economics and agriculture, we consentedto keep one exemplar of each for school library. Other tomes couldbe useful for Govdela’s succesor 7 . Also, we consider that the rest ofbooks should be returned to Govdela’s son who could benefit from thiscollection. Especiallyy that those 1417 in hellenic are of less value forlibrary Signed: Nicolae Demi, Ioan Galanu, Nicolae Harita 8 .What is the lot of this collection?We’ll highlight the most significant aspects that influenced the lot ofDimitrie Govdela’s library. General Governator of Novirossia, Earl MihailVoronţov on August, 2, 1833 announce the Chief of Bessarabian Lairdsthat he was informed through Russian Consulate in Iasi that Govdela’s son5ANRM, F. 88, inv.1, d. 719, f. 4-5.6Ibidem, f. 8.7Ibidem.8Ibidem.