Italian municipal reading promotion initiatives

In early July 2026, the town of Padula in southern Italy received a €10,000 grant under the national "Città che legge" program to support school‑based reading activities, while the non‑profit Birba continued its ninth edition of the "Una biblioteca in ogni scuola" competition, encouraging volunteer‑run school libraries in underserved areas.

By late July, other municipalities expanded the push for reading. Milan allocated six former municipal properties to independent neighbourhood bookstores through the "Liber in libris" programme, selecting three new shops and two continuations while barring large chains, aiming to keep cultural activity alive in districts. Meanwhile, the town of Reggiolo launched a public call for schools, associations, and citizens to join a local "Patto per la lettura," a pact required to qualify for the "Città che legge" label, with co‑design of events and shared resources planned for the 2026‑2029 triennium. These actions illustrate a broader rollout of reading‑promotion measures across Italian towns, building on earlier grant awards and competitions to foster cultural participation and social inclusion.