Italian independent booksellers resist government reopening order
On April 11, 2020, an open letter was released by 154 independent booksellers in Italy on Minima&Moralia, organized by the LED group. They voiced their worries regarding the government's plan to allow bookstores to reopen on April 14 amid the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on issues such as workplace safety, economic viability, and insufficient support for independent stores. Italy has the lowest adult reading rate among the top five European publishing nations, with 41% of adults purchasing fewer than three books annually. Some areas postponed their reopening, and Lazio set its date for April 20. Culture Minister Franceschini emphasized the importance of reopening. Responses varied: Liberi Tutti continued home deliveries, La Confraternita dell'Uva remained closed, while Libreria MarcoPolo opened on select days. Authors like Ginevra Bompiani had previously advocated for reopening for spiritual nourishment.
Key facts
- 154 independent booksellers signed an open letter published April 11, 2020 on Minima&Moralia
- The letter was coordinated by the LED group (Librai Editori Distribuzione)
- Government ordered bookstores to reopen from April 14, 2020
- Italy has the lowest adult reading rate among top five European publishing markets
- 41% of Italian readers buy fewer than three books per year
- Only 17% of Italians read at least one book per month
- Lombardy, Piedmont, Campania, Trentino, Sardinia, and parts of Emilia-Romagna postponed reopening
- Lazio delayed reopening until April 20
- Veneto allowed bookstores to open two days per week
- Culture Minister Franceschini called reopening recognition of book as essential good
- ALI president Paolo Ambrosini supported the reopening
- Authors including Ginevra Bompiani, Tomaso Montanari, Gianrico Carofiglio, Tullio Pericoli, Ludovico Pratesi signed an earlier appeal for reopening
- Libreria MarcoPolo in Venice reopened on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- La Confraternita dell'Uva in Bologna decided not to reopen
Entities
Artists
- Ginevra Bompiani
- Tomaso Montanari
- Gianrico Carofiglio
- Tullio Pericoli
- Ludovico Pratesi
- Paolo Ambrosini
- Arianna Testino
Institutions
- Minima&Moralia
- LED – Librai Editori Distribuzione
- AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori
- ALI – Associazione Librai Italiani
- Libreria Liberi Tutti
- Gogol and Company
- La Confraternita dell’Uva
- Libreria MarcoPolo
- Artribune
- TPO Bologna
Locations
- Italy
- Lombardy
- Piedmont
- Campania
- Trentino
- Sardinia
- Lazio
- Emilia-Romagna
- Veneto
- La Spezia
- Milan
- Bologna
- Venice
- Piacenza
- Rimini
- Medicina