National Book Month—which occurs each October in the United States—is not observed in Italy, but the months from September to December are the most important as far as books go. They encompass the end of summer vacation, the beginning of the school year, and later, the holiday season, and they see a flurry of new titles and book-related events. Let’s see how Italians foster a love for reading in people of all ages.
Some Stats: How Much Do Italians Read?
In comparison to the rest of Europe, Italians do not rank very high when it comes to reading books. When compared to 72% of Danes, 70% of Swedes, and 62% of French people, 35% of Italians over the age of 16 read at least a book per year—which is not that much. On the bright side, however, more and more people read at least one book a month (lettori forti, in Italian)—although they only amount to 6.4% of the general population.
When it comes to libraries, it looks like Italians still haven’t made up their pre-pandemic user base. Only 14% of people living in the north of Italy regularly go to the library, and numbers decrease as we head south, with a mere 9.2% in central Italy and only 5.7% of people from the south visiting their local library on a regular basis. Young people seem to enjoy going to the library more than the general population, however; 25.3% of those under 25 are library-goers (compared to an average of 10.2% of adults). Library-related-stats are encouraging, though; libraries are still a precious—in some places, the only—place for finding and enjoying books (along with the many other things libraries do). Hopefully, in a few years, libraries will be back to where they were in 2019—or maybe even in a better place.
Libraries, Bookstores, Book Fairs, and Other Things Reading-Related
How do Italians encourage a love for reading? Local public libraries are definitely the number one place to discover, read, and enjoy books. Whether small or big, super-modern or old-fashioned, libraries organize a wide array of events for all ages, from book clubs to book challenges, public readings, authors’ talks, workshops, and help with homework … you name it and you’ll almost invariably find it at a local library.
Bookstores—both local, independent ones and big chain stores—are of course the other place to go to read. Along with their primary mission (to sell books!) and collateral activities such as presenting new titles and launching campaigns to encourage people to buy books, bookstores are also great places to peep at new releases and discover titles you might not have noticed otherwise. And like the libraries mentioned above, people working at bookstores are often more than happy to help you out and give recommendations.
Book fairs usually target professionals, but if you’re an avid reader, or want to know more about some specific aspects of the editorial world, they are also open to the general audience. The biggest book fairs in Italy are the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino, which happens every year in May, and the Bologna Children Book’s Fair, which takes place between March and April.
Silent reading parties —a concept imported from the US— are also becoming a thing, especially in major cities. During these events, which are organized by libraries, bookstores, and even cafés, people simply gather with their books and read. It goes without saying that no smartphones are allowed, although generally speaking, social media can be a great tool to arouse curiosity around books: #booktoks are a steady thing in Italy as they are many other countries.
And this brings us to the final, often decisive, factor in inspiring a forever love for books: people. Librarians, booksellers, book-related content creators, parents, friends, and teachers: Each of us has *the one* who suggested *that book*, right? So keep your ears—and your minds—open, e buona lettura!
By Claudia Quesito
You Might Also Like:
Top Italian Authors & Books to Read in 2023
Libraries are full of wonders with many benefits
Celebrate National Library Lover’s Month with These Books for Language Learning
