Lombardy launches first regional pact for reading as social infrastructure
Lombardy has introduced its inaugural Regional Pact for Reading, unveiled by President Attilio Fontana alongside Regional Culture Councillor Francesca Caruso. Comprising 61 organizations, the initiative seeks to establish reading as a vital social infrastructure by broadening access in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, and social care facilities. It emphasizes making reading accessible to non-readers, individuals with disabilities, and those marginalized from cultural activities. Significant actions include enhancing reading in vulnerable environments, bolstering library services, and advancing digital content. With more than 45 million documents, Lombardy's library network features around 1,400 institutions and over 1,300 public libraries. The three-year pact invites new participants, particularly targeting non-readers, youth, and isolated individuals.
Key facts
- Lombardy launched its first Regional Pact for Reading.
- Presented by President Attilio Fontana and Culture Councillor Francesca Caruso at Palazzo Lombardia.
- The pact involves 61 entities including institutions, cultural bodies, universities, foundations, libraries, publishers, associations, and the third sector.
- Goal: transform reading into a social infrastructure by expanding access to hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, and social care facilities.
- Lombardy's libraries hold over 45 million documents, nearly 19% of Italy's national bibliographic heritage.
- There are about 1,400 library institutes, over 40 library systems, and more than 1,300 municipal and public libraries in Lombardy.
- A regional coordination table will oversee objectives, monitoring, and new projects.
- The pact has a three-year duration and is open to new members without deadlines.
Entities
Institutions
- Palazzo Lombardia
- Regional Pact for Reading
- Lombardy
Locations
- Lombardy
- Italy
- Milan
- Mantua