The library? Italians prefer physical

Italians choose to buy books both in physical stores and online much more than what happens in other countries, they frequent physical bookstores because there they find that atmosphere given not only by the place, but also by those who work there. The survey emerges from research on readers’ purchasing styles carried out by Eibf, the international bookshop association of which Ali-Confcommercio is a member for Italy. The survey finds that in Italy 94% of the sample of interviewees has read a book in the last 12 months while 86% have purchased at least one, a figure above the average when compared with the other 19 countries in the sample.

Paperbacks are the absolute favorite format. Ge-books were purchased by 35% of those interviewed with a prevalence especially in the 18 to 34 age group. When it comes to genres, the market is dominated by fiction, but other genres such as biographies and classical literature are popular with Italians.

“This survey, the first carried out in our sector with a panel of 19 countries, offers us many ideas for analysis and reflection. It emerges, in particular, that our bookshops are places where Italians find not only books, but also and above all competence and atmosphere”, declares Paolo Ambrosini, president of Ali-Confcommercio. “Working as an association – he adds – in order to give our companies tools to invest in the renovation of the premises and in the training of their collaborators is central for us: this is why we are asking the institutions to open a national rotation fund for the opening and renewal of bookshops, while at European level we have proposed the creation of a common booksellers’ school for continuous training. Being part of and supporting Eibf allows us to open our gaze and horizon beyond the domestic walls and also launch a representation strategy that can anticipate processes already underway in other parts of the world”.