ALEXANDRIA. “The Archive is a garrison of culture, but this time we have also become one of health“. Andrea Spagni proudly tells of the transformation of the shed of the former Valfrè Barracks (where their depot should have ended) into a vaccination hub.
«The premises – he explains – had already been re-functionalized and tested, we were waiting for the shelves to arrange the documents. We would soon begin the transfer of some funds that are now located in via Solero. Then came the request from the Municipality of Alessandria: they asked us to be able to use that space as a vaccination hub, given that winter was approaching ». It was October 21st. In record time, Spagni obtained the ok from the General Directorate of the Archives of Rome. “We were contacted by the ASL and finally we signed this agreement in which we give out on free loan for as long as this space is needed”.
Indoor vaccinations began yesterday 22 November. And we must say thanks to the State Archives if you no longer expect frost, if the documents do not have to be filled in while wearing gloves. In eight months of activity, the former barracks were administered more than 78,000 doses, but it was unthinkable to continue with the usual five hundred vaccinations a day with the current temperatures. We needed a Plan B.
«By selling our restaurant, which is 1200 square meters wide – continues Spagni – they only had to move a few meters. We are also talking about a ready-to-use, recovered and tested shed ».
The activities of the vaccination hub of the former Valfrè barracks will therefore be able to continue throughout the winter, sheltered from the cold. «The State Archives are a garrison of culture in the city. We also keep the historical archive of the Municipality, which is normally managed directly by the institution and made available. We have been doing it instead of the town hall since 1941. Even during the pandemic and the red zones we guaranteed historical research: in December 2020 our minister decided to open the Archives to the public, at a time when museums and libraries were inaccessible . We have therefore also been an instrument of rights protection. And we do not only serve the research of scholars: professionals come to us to consult the archives of the prefecture and be able to obtain the structural calculations of the reinforced concrete, fundamental for the 110% Superbonus ». After all, they have thirteen linear kilometers of documentation, “and we are one of the most consulted in Piedmont, so much so that we never lack users”.
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