Cagliari Airport Library, from reading to book sharing: first example in Italy

What to do during waiting hours at the airport? At the Mario Mameli of Cagliari Elmas reading is strongly recommended.

Did you forget to load the Kindle? No room in your suitcase for a paper book? What to do? You can take advantage of the airport library opened last June 25. An interesting initiative to say the least, the implementation of which turns out to be one of the first at the European level. Starting this summer, it is therefore possible to take advantage of the "Cagliari Airport Library", which is unique at the Italian level.

Cagliari airport, how the bookstore works

It goes without saying that access to the library built inside the Mario Mameli Airport in Cagliari Elmas is totally free of charge. Anyone can decide to take advantage of the service. Passengers will therefore have the opportunity to consult volumes of various kinds in the prepared reading areas. However, the "Cagliari Airport Library" proposal is not limited to this. In fact, it is also possible to opt for the loan of one or more texts, as well as for the book sharing, choosing from a selection of works available.

A place that first strikes the eye of travelers, even before they choose a volume. In fact, the layout is characterized by fine furniture elements. The entire area has a strong identity, going to recall the culture and craft tradition of the Sardinia. A way to introduce tourists to ancient local history. Aimed as much at Italians as foreigners, considering the wide selection of texts in local languages, English and beyond. The idea goes back about a year, right around the time of the closures due to Covid-19, which forced the project to be postponed. Most of the texts come from publishing houses, while others are gifts from private individuals. A total of five hundred texts, to which are added another five hundred volumes for the exchange area.

What is book sharing

As mentioned, the "Cagliari Airport Library" will allow text consultation in the reading areas, lending, and book sharing. This last expression may leave some travelers a bit baffled. Here, then, is what it is all about. The Cagliari airport library includes a section, enriched by an additional 500 volumes, dedicated to this practice. It is, quite simply, a free exchange of texts. Books change owners. All you need to do is go to the designated area, choose a text, pick it up, and leave another in its place. A barter of ideas and culture, which makes this initiative even more intriguing.

Other projects

On the occasion of the opening of the library, it was also decided to present "Concrete Visions", the first major anthology on Ermanno Leinardi. A key artist for the city of Cagliari and all of Sardinia. Symbol of the aesthetic revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.

Added to this is another project, desired by the Sciola Foundation, in collaboration with Sogaer and the Frem group. It was decided to pay homage to the sculptor Pinuccio Sciola, offering the public the "Indoor Garden" of Cagliari Airport. This is intended as an artistic space, in reference to the San Sperate Open-Air Museum, which boasts the "Sound Garden," inside which are countless sculptural works by the artist, nestled among orange trees and aromatic plants, typical of the Mediterranean area.

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