Focus group of Biblioteche in Festa 2026 at the Polo del '900
News of
The Polo del '900 in Turin hosted one of the three focus groups that kicked off the 2026 edition of «Biblioteche in Festa» (“Libraries in Celebration”), together with the Sala Santa Marta in Ivrea and the “Giovanni Ferrero” civic library in Alba. The meetings brought together librarians, industry professionals, volunteers and municipal administrations for a discussion on the world of libraries and on strengthening their role in the area [1][2].
The meetings
The three meetings were attended by more than 60 people in all, with a debate that compared different experiences: from the libraries of the small municipalities in the hills of the Langhe and Canavese to larger, more structured libraries, as well as specialist libraries [1][2].
The Manifesto of Piedmont's Libraries
These local consultations are part of a wider process to draw up a “Manifesto delle Biblioteche del Piemonte” (“Manifesto of Piedmont's Libraries”), a document meant to describe the value of libraries as a cultural and social resource going beyond book lending, and to set out what these institutions need in order to carry out their role. The themes discussed in the focus groups, including the structure of libraries and their relationship with the local area, will be taken up again at the final meeting on Sunday 29 November 2026 [1][2].
The rest of the programme
After the focus groups, «Biblioteche in Festa» continued on Thursday 12 November 2026, at 6pm, at the Esseci cultural centre in Cuneo, with a public lecture by the journalist and writer Loredana Lipperini, introduced by Marco Pautasso, chair of Progetto Cantoregi, as part of scrittorincittà. From Monday 16 November 2026, meetings with Piedmontese schools also began, in the towns of Nichelino, Savigliano, Alba, Pinerolo, Racconigi, Fossano, Bra and Mondovì [1][2].