Many citizens at the greeting aperitif for the closure of the Boys’ Library and children of Milan
For the Milanese, and not only for them, the library of the boys and girls founded in 1972 by Roberto Denti, for over 50 years an institution, a place of the heart, a point of reference: for families, for educators, illustrators, writers … It was the first in Italy dedicated to books for the little ones, the second in Europe. Recently owned by the publisher Il Castoro, despite the growing interest in children’s literature, despite organizing events for years, meetings with the authors, training seminars, often free, despite a private individual had emptied their showcase as a gesture of support, It ended up under the pincer of the dear rent, which has led in recent years to the death of many independent bookstores, falling one after the other, As has already happened to cinemas, as happened in Wow the comic museum in Wow, making this Milan become, which in the past has been boasted of the epithet of “moral capital of Italy” and which has always seen its distinctive trait in culture, so much so that it is the seat of the largest number of publishers and newspapers, more and more poorly culturally poor, increasingly prey to speculation, shopping centers, of the stores. But this time Children’s writers are not attending at the end of such an important place, for those who write books, but above all for those who read them, children, young people, parents, teachers ... And so the 240 registered in ICWA, the Italian Association of Children’s Writers, decided to express himself publicly, addressing the Mayor and the Milan Council to be averted the disappearance of this historic library is averted.
The poster of an event in the bookcase of the boys and girls in via Tadino where the mayor of Milan Beppe Sala had also participated
The letter of children’s writers of ICWA
Dear Mr. Mayor, Gentile City Council,
The Board of Directors of ICWA, association of Italian writers for children, Vuole express you the
its own and over two hundred and forty members and members in the face of the disconcerting news of the
Closing of the girls’ library and boys of Milan, founded by Gianna and Roberto Denti and for
Fifty years Place of promotion and dissemination of Italian culture as well as a point of reference for
Large and small readers, writers, librarians, teachers, parents and all those interested and yes
they dedicate to the world of childhood and adolescence.
The bookcase of girls and boys, as it was imagined and created by Roberto and Gianna
Teeth and supported by the new owners of the editor Il Castoro, It has always been an extraordinary space and
only so that, once closed, it will not be replaced by anything else likeand, going to open with his
absence a cultural void in the city.
We think not only of the vast exposure and sale of books for children and teachers, but also to the courses of
High quality training for teachers and librarians (who have also been useful to cover roles once
supported by the Province of Milan), that no other private or public body promotes. And then rEsta a
shared place of nourishment, open to all and usable in daily time, Libero. Something you are
came to create, which has become a costume and precious and beloved custom, and that suddenly
It disappears and citizenship is missing.
All this is for us a source of pain and uncertainty, but it also compares us with another, wider,
problem, which arouses perplexity and disappointment. Day after day, we witness powerless termination
of bookcases and other places of culture. With bewilderment we are witnessing the transformation of
Milan, our big city, in a place where the organized cultural expression becomes more tiring,
whose primary cause is due to the unsustainable increase in prices, and not only those of the rents.
“Milan” as the Milanese are said, “becomes more and more dear!”.
What is, in this perspective, the cultural future that awaits our city? We ask ourselves.
And that’s why, kind mr. Mayor, who appeal to the Milanese public administration
so that he is committed to studying and sustaining an acceptable solution, which can afford to theLibreria
of the girls and boys of Milan and to the cultural agents who live the same dramatic situation,
the possibility of a second occasion, and all the Milanese to enjoy their contribution of great, true,
wealth.
Cordially,
President ICWA
Roberto Morgese
The Board of Directors and the ICWA Secretariat
Carla Colmegna, Marco Dazzani, Chiara Lossani, Alan Rossi, Manuela Salvi, Monica stage, Elisa
Vincenzi
