Italy's #ioleggoperché Book Donation Initiative Returns to Boost School Libraries

The #ioleggoperché initiative, a significant social project by the Italian Publishers Association (AIE), is set to return from November 7 to 15, calling on citizens, schools, bookstores, publishers, and institutions to donate books for school libraries. This marks the eleventh edition of a project that has already distributed 4.5 million books to over half of Italy's schools in a decade.

Building on its past successes, the initiative is entering a new phase focused on enhancing the cultural and social impact of books within schools and local communities. The goal is to transform book donations into opportunities for reading, participation, and personal growth. The project receives support from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Merit, and various library and bookseller associations.

Schools and bookstores can register for the initiative until October 14. Book donations will take place from November 7 to 15, with publishers contributing 100,000 books. This year, #ioleggoperché aims not only to supply libraries but also to create reading activities and projects around the donated books. Data analysis has identified Calabria, Sardinia, and Molise as regions that have benefited less from the initiative, prompting a focused effort to strengthen its social impact there.