BiblioLavoro

BiblioLavoro is an Italian cultural association founded on 21 January 2002 on the initiative of CISL Lombardia, the Lombardy regional branch of Italy's CISL trade union confederation. Its mission is to conserve and enhance the historical memory of labour and trade unionism through its library and archival heritage, which was previously held by the Fondazione Pietro Seveso. Founding members included CISL Lombardia, the Fondazione Pietro Seveso, the national Fim CISL and CISL Milano; territorial CISL structures (Ust) and regional category federations (Fsr) are also members. The association is based in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan, and operates a library of more than 30,000 items — books, pamphlets, periodicals, contracts and videos — alongside a historical archive covering regional and national records from the 1930s to the present, and a video library of some 4,000 films, documentaries and reportages. Beyond conservation, cataloguing and archival ordering, BiblioLavoro promotes cultural events, publications and conferences. Since 2022 it has also served as the research office (ufficio studi) for USR CISL Lombardia, territorial unions and sector federations, producing research on labour, society and the economy. BiblioLavoro addresses a diverse public: the trade union world, universities (teachers, researchers, students), trainers, library and archive professionals, public and private cultural institutions, and upper secondary schools. It also offers university internships and civil service placements for young people. Its activities include the Labour Film Festival, which brings labour-themed cinema to audiences in the region.

BiblioLavoro was established on 21 January 2002 as a cultural association on the initiative of CISL Lombardia. Its purpose was to conserve and enhance the historical memory of labour and trade unionism, taking over the library and archival heritage that had until then been held by the Fondazione Pietro Seveso. The founding members were CISL Lombardia, the Fondazione Pietro Seveso, the national Fim CISL and CISL Milano; territorial CISL structures (Ust) and regional category federations (Fsr) joined as members. From its foundation, BiblioLavoro combined conservation, library cataloguing and archival ordering with cultural promotion and in-depth study. Its library grew to more than 30,000 items — books, pamphlets, periodicals, contracts and videos — together with numerous personal and institutional collections. Its historical archive covers records of regional and national relevance from the 1930s to the present, and its video library holds around 4,000 films, trade union documentaries, films and reportages used for educational activities and themed screenings. In 2022, twenty years after its founding, BiblioLavoro took on an additional role as the research office (ufficio studi) for USR CISL Lombardia, the territorial unions and the sector federations, producing research and analysis on labour, society and the economy. The association serves a broad public including the trade union world, universities, trainers, library and archive professionals, cultural institutions and upper secondary schools, and offers university internships and civil service experiences to young people. Among its recurring cultural initiatives is the Labour Film Festival, which brings labour-themed cinema to audiences in the region.

• BiblioLavoro founded as a cultural association on the initiative of CISL Lombardia.

• BiblioLavoro begins serving as research office (ufficio studi) for USR CISL Lombardia, territorial unions and sector federations.

A cultural association and documentation centre of CISL Lombardia, bridging the historical culture of trade unionism with the future of the world of work.

• Library

  Over 30,000 items including books, pamphlets, periodicals, contracts and videos, plus personal and institutional collections.

• Historical Archive

  Archives of regional and national relevance from the 1930s to the present.

• Video Library

  About 4,000 films, trade union documentaries, films and reportages for educational activities and themed screenings.

1. 1Bibliolavoro – La biblioteca di CISL Lombardia a Milanobibliolavoro.it
2. 2Chi siamo – Bibliolavorobibliolavoro.it
3. 3BiblioLavoro – Wikidatawikidata.org