segnatura

Segnatura is an Italian term that denotes an identifying label or mark attached to an object, and it is used in several distinct domains to indicate location, identity, or authority. The word derives from Latin signatura, from signare, to set a mark or sign.

In libraries and archives, segnatura refers to the shelf mark or call number assigned to a book or manuscript. This segnatura identifies the item’s place within the collection and guides shelving, retrieval, and handling. The format and components of a segnatura vary by library system; it may include a class or subject code, a cutter, and sometimes a year. For example, a library item might bear a segnatura such as QA76.73.K36 2010, which encodes its classification and author-related cutter. Beyond aiding physical location, the segnatura also helps integrate the item into catalog records and circulation workflows.

In manuscript and historical libraries, the segnatura has long served as a practical inventory and location system. Traditional shelf marks often combine letters and numbers to reflect the library’s organizational scheme, indicating room, shelf, and position. This usage persists in many institutions with centuries of holdings.

In ecclesiastical context, the term appears in the phrase Apostolic Signatura (Segnatura Apostolica in Italian), the highest tribunal of the Holy See. This body exercises judicial authority within the Catholic Church and is one of the central offices of its governance.

Overall, segnatura functions as a compact, durable means of identifying and locating physical items, while also appearing in historical and institutional names with broader meanings of authority or signification.