Bulletin of the European Union Publishers' Forum - Amt für ...

Country profile
Graphic 2: Publishers to/from the
leading publishing markets
France
Spain
USA
Italy
Number of titles
(estimates)
UK
Germany
Source: Elaboration by AlE research department of data from
Doxa for Ice.
309
812
96
2 204
71
232 286 167
1 682
464
Graphic 3: List of the largest
publishing houses in Italy
The market share of large publishing houses
is constantly increasing, to the detriment of
small businesses.
Source: Uffici studi AIE on Demoskopea data, 2004.
important: for example, more Italian titles are
sold in Poland than in France and Spain.
Publishing exports are greatly affected
by the fact that the Italian language is
not widely spoken throughout the world.
According to an approximate estimate by
the AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani residenti
all’Estero — Italian Registry of Residents
Government initiatives
Abroad), the number of Italians living
abroad is around 4 million, while there are
approximately 60 million people of Italian
origin. This is a potentially important market,
though unfortunately 70 % of those of
Italian origin cannot speak or never use the
language.
The Ministry of Culture (Department IV) is responsible for policies promoting books and reading.
In addition to the responsibilities and initiatives of the central government, regional and local
administrations have an ever increasing number of duties following the revision of Title V of the
Constitution. In particular, there are provisions for the following initiatives.
PROMOTION OF READING
La Settimana della lettura (Reading week)
An opportunity for pupils at upper secondary schools in Rome to get to know writers and
their books at the ‘Più libri più liberi’ (More books, more freedom) event, which is based on a
different theme each year.
Atlante della poesia italiana del Novecento (Atlas of 20th century Italian poetry)
A programme of readings, exhibitions and conferences tracing the geographical history of
20th century poetry. This programme is aimed at upper secondary schools and is organised in
conjunction with the regional administrations.
Ali d’autore (Author’s wings)
Promoting reading among the prison population. The aim is to use the values of literature to
rehabilitate prisoners.
Non si smette mai di leggere (You never stop reading)
Promoting reading among the elderly with the cooperation of the main elderly persons’
associations.
La lettura non va in esilio (Reading cannot be exiled)
Initiatives on the theme of political refugees involving students from 50 upper secondary
schools in Italy’s major cities and with the participation of writers and refugees themselves.
Una valigia di libri che viaggia per te (A Suitcase full of books which travels for you)
A national project organised by the Union of Italian Provinces (Unione delle Province d’Italia)
and Andersen magazine to equip 1 000 school buses with small libraries containing books for
children and teenagers.
Librarsi (Fly away with books)
An experimental project in Lecce Province for the promotion of reading among people
suffering from psychological problems.
Lettura nelle scuole (Reading in schools)
Projects jointly organised by the Fondazione Maria e Goffredo Bellonci (Maria and Goffredo
Bellonci Foundation), the Premio Grinzane Cavour (Grinzane Cavour Prize), the Unione Lettori
Italiani (Italian Readers’ Union), the Coordinamento Riviste Italiane di Cultura (Grouping of
Italian Cultural Magazines) and others.
Country profile
Each year, five prizes are awarded to individuals for activities which promote books and reading.
16 inforum 2/2005