The Problem of Human Time

The factory libraries introduced by Adriano Olivetti from the 1940s onwards, along with the Cultural Centre in Ivrea, were truly revolutionary, bringing culture into the workplace. This paradigm shift reimagined the spaces of production, recognising workers’ time and transforming these settings into real community centres, fostering cultural exchange and interaction. Olivetti’s vision challenged the notion of culture as a privilege for the elite, interpreting it as a form of common knowledge to be shared. Although company libraries were not unheard of—a notable precedent being the Pirelli library set up back in 1928 for members of the company’s recreational club—Olivetti’s innovation lay in placing books and culture at the heart of a broader reflection on time and human development. Chiara Faggiolani’s book retraces the story of the Olivetti libraries, underscoring the idea that books have the power to change lives. Such was Olivetti’s conviction that he included culture and education as part of the factory’s social services, viewing it as an essential part of workers’ overall remuneration. The author questions the power that this idea may, or may not, have on the present as well as on a future in which we may still plan and design libraries as spaces for our curiosity, imagination, dialogue, and reading. The Pirelli libraries, now present at the Bicocca headquarters and in the factories in Settimo Torinese and Bollate, are present-day examples of company libraries in Italy. These are currently enjoying a renaissance, and are part of an on-going discussion about the work-life balance—a theme on which Olivetti was a pioneering spirit.
Il problema del tempo umano. Le biblioteche di Adriano Olivetti: storia di un’idea rivoluzionaria
Chiara Faggiolani
Edizioni di Comunità, 2025