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Italian Teacher Drives 'Bibliomotocarro' to Inspire Reading in Rural Areas

Published January 7, 2026, 13:20
Italian Teacher Drives 'Bibliomotocarro' to Inspire Reading in Rural Areas

An Italian teacher, Antonio La Cava, dedicated decades to bringing books closer to children in Basilicata, a region in southern Italy where interest in reading had declined. He converted an old delivery truck into a mobile library, the 'Bibliomotocarro', and used it to visit remote villages and lend books to children. Since 1999, he has traveled over 300,000 kilometers, reaching 121 out of 131 towns in the region. La Cava, who retired in 2010, believes that reading is more important than ever, especially in the age of artificial intelligence and new media. He considers that books offer a unique experience and cannot be replaced by technology. Inside the 'Bibliomotocarro', there is also a space where children can watch short films based on books, further enhancing their love of reading. The teacher recounts traveling over 100 km just to deliver books to two children. He dreams of seeing similar mobile libraries traveling across every province of Italy, promoting culture and development, and inspiring the next generation of librarians.