The project «Socializing in the Library 2», funded by the 8 per thousand of the Waldensian Church, for the redevelopment of the municipal library «Grazia Deledda» in Ponticelli, closes with a record number of entries.
The project, carried out by the associations Noi@Europe, TerradiConfine and the Sepoff Cooperative, recorded as many as 680 entries in January 2024 alone.
«Socializing in the library 2» has allowed management over the last 12 months by third sector entities that have increased the activities planned in the municipal structure of Ponticelli: from cataloging texts, to book presentations and activities for children, from extending closing time until 8pm, to monitoring and board games. A daily activity that, since the start of the project, has increased tenfold the entries (+857%).
Between September 2022 and January 2023 - exclusive municipal management and only morning opening - the «Deledda» registered 278 users. With the project «Socializing in the Library» and with the contribution of the above-mentioned entities, from September 2023 to January 2024 (with extended opening) the «Deledda» registered 2661 users.
«We can say, with certainty, thanks to the monitoring work carried out, that that of Ponticelli is the most frequented public reading library in East Naples», comment the entities that have worked on the project.
«Ponticelli and the eastern suburbs are at the top in a well-being indicator and not in discomfort. This is a great source of pride for us, in a space, let's remember, that has 60% of the areas unfit for use and that means: fewer classrooms available, fewer seats to study, fewer classrooms for training», the associations continue.
Important, for the entities, the way in which these results were achieved.
«We focused on the competences of the operators, furnishing the central hall to recover positions, fixing the noisiest activities in the hours of least student influx. A combination of actions that had as its vision to strengthen the relationship with the community that lives the library every day and we did it with the utmost humility, asking for suggestions, accepting criticism. Among the actions, we would like to underline, also the continuous and constant dialogue with local institutions».
«The «Deledda» Library in Ponticelli is today a young space for a young neighborhood. From the monitoring conducted, it emerges that almost 80% of the registered users of the library are between the ages of 18 and 34. The Library is, in fact, one of the youth aggregation spaces of the neighborhood. Ponticelli has 50,000 inhabitants, many closed sports facilities and an almost absent nightlife. Seen in this way, an inhospitable place for young people. In this context - the associations underline - the library is a point of reference: to study, work with your own pc, but also meet your peers, take breaks in the outdoor classroom, exchange a few words. A safe and welcoming space for young people in Ponticelli and throughout the city».
The Socializing in the Library 2 project, conclude the entities that have worked in the Deledda, “certifies that the integrated management model between public and private social works as it implements and improves the quality of the services offered. The proposed one is a best practice that we are already bringing to other structures of the city. The third sector once again demonstrates its importance both at the level of building the territorial community and in the timely resolution of daily problems” conclude the entities.