Books beyond the borders was born in Trieste in collaboration with the National Community in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, and thanks to the patronage of the People’s University of Trieste. The aim is to enhance and maintain the Italian linguistic heritage in Istria, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Montenegro
Books beyond borders is the cultural project of the public libraries of the city of Triestewhich sees the support ofPeople’s University of Trieste and the collaboration of Italian National Community in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, i.e. realities that reflect the life and activities of the Italian communities in the countries mentioned. The aim of the activity is to promote and support the reading and knowledge of the Italian language, to keep alive the cultural and linguistic identity of the Italian communities in Istria, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Montenegro.
The aim will in fact be to support the Italian-language books used in lower and higher secondary schools in Slovenia and Croatia with additional texts (carefully chosen by the Library Service of the municipality of Trieste). Books beyond the borders will then be a useful tool to give greater attention and help to the Italian Studies Departments Universities of Rijeka, Pula and Koperas well as the Italian-language sections of the municipal libraries of Istria and of River (River in Italian). The Books beyond the borders project saw the participation of 52 educational institutions in the Slovenian, Croatian and Montenegrin territories, which enthusiastically welcomed the idea of a free exchange of books for sharing and deepening their own literary production , cultural and linguistic.
Books beyond borders: Italian communities abroad
The area on which the Books beyond the borders project is concentrated is historically a crossroads and a fusion of different cultures, nationalities and languages, including the Italian community. In the’Croatian Istriafor example, the Italian community reaches almost 20 thousand individuals (7% of the population), with locations such as Dark where 40% of the population has Italian origins. In Sloveniathe Italian community sees around 2500 members, with border areas – such as the city of Nova Goriza, capital of culture 2025 together with the Italian Gorizia – in which the population is almost totally bilingual. Even the Montenegro sees a sizeable Italian community, with 600 people, 420 of which are Italian-speaking.
One of the most important bodies for Italian representation in the area is the Unione Italiana, representing the Italian minority in Slovenia and Croatia and with offices in Capodistria and Fiume; there Italian National Community of Montenegro is awaiting membership.
It’s February and you’ve run out of books to read? Here are 3 books coming out this month.