Italian libraries struggle with low attendance, only 10% of population visits

Italian libraries face a crisis of relevance as only 5.7 million citizens (less than 10% of the population) use them, according to Istat data cited in the Minicifre della Cultura report. With 8,131 public libraries across the country, the sector must rethink its role in the digital age. Stefano Monti, partner at Monti&Taft, argues that libraries should adopt marketing and communication strategies to compete for citizens' attention, such as pop-up centers in stations, delivery services, co-working spaces, and partnerships with commercial centers. The goal is to attract non-readers, who are the real beneficiaries, given Italy's high functional illiteracy and low cultural consumption. Libraries must evolve from custodians of books to active cultural hubs offering diverse services, including temporary exhibitions, video games, digital databases, and paid meeting rooms. The challenge is to make libraries habitual places for all citizens, not just students.