Italy expands book donation initiatives to nurseries and charity drives

The Italian literacy initiative #ioleggoperché, organized by the Associazione Italiana Editori (AIE) with support from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Merit, is expanding its scope. Starting in 2026, Italian nurseries (asili nido) will be eligible to receive book donations for the first time. This follows a successful pilot program conducted between 2022 and 2025 in collaboration with Fondazione Cariplo, Nati per Leggere, and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

In a separate cultural effort in Ferrara, the Ferrara Buskers Festival, Factory Grisù, and the 451 association have launched the “Lascia il Segno” campaign. This initiative aims to collect books for donation to underprivileged individuals. The campaign includes a series of summer readings focused on Eastern themes, such as manga, samurai literature, and the connection between Japanese culture and the West, held during the festival.