LibrInCittà — Festival of Reading

A widespread festival for the reading city

LibrInCittà is the Festival of Reading in Jesi, in the heart of the Province of Ancona and the Marche region. It doesn't take place in a single location or on a single day: for almost two months, from late February to mid-April, it enlivens the Planettiana Library, schools, bookstores, parks, and historic buildings in the city. The underlying idea is simple and ambitious at the same time: to transform the entire city of Jesi into an open book, bringing reading out of its usual spaces and into the daily lives of children, teenagers, and adults.

Inside the "Made of Stories" project

The festival is part of the "Fatti di storie – #JesiLegge" (Made of Stories – #JesiReads) project, funded by Cepell (Center for Books and Reading) as part of the "Città che legge" (City that Reads) call for proposals. It is coordinated by the Municipality of Jesi and supported by the "Local Pact for Reading," a network that brings together the library, schools, bookstores, associations, and Comprehensive Institutes of the area. This deep local connection explains the choral nature of the event: students are not mere spectators but protagonists, with stands, installations, and reading paths curated directly by them.

Meetings with authors, workshops, and walks

The program combines different languages and age groups. Among the recurring offerings, you will find:

• Meetings with writers open to the public, often hosted in the halls of the Planettiana Library;
• Afternoon workshops for children and teenagers (by reservation), ranging from drawing to creative writing, to storytelling techniques like kamishibai;
• Literary walks through the city's gardens and parks, such as the "Ode to the Bench";
• Reading groups and training sessions for teachers and educators, with the support of organizations specializing in reading promotion.

Book fairs at Palazzo dei Convegni

The pulsating heart of the festival are the book fairs hosted at Palazzo dei Convegni, where schools of all levels set up their stands: two distinct weekends dedicated first to high schools, then to Comprehensive Institutes. These are lively days where young people recommend readings, talk about books, and welcome the public, reflecting the image of a community growing around stories.

A free event for the entire community

All LibrInCittà events are free admission; reservations are usually required for workshops and walks, given the limited availability of places. The complete and updated program is published from time to time on the website of the Planettiana Library and on the channels of the Municipality of Jesi.