La biblioteca che apre di notte (The library that opens at night)
QCER B1227 parole
The public library in Elda used to close at eight o'clock. Two years ago it started opening until two in the morning during exam weeks, and nobody expected what happened next.
The idea came from a librarian called Rosa. She had noticed that the same fifteen or twenty students came in at half past seven, sat down, and were thrown out half an hour later. Some of them lived in flats with three brothers and sisters and no quiet corner. Others simply worked better at night.
The town council said no at first. Opening late meant paying somebody to be there, and the budget was small. Rosa did not argue about money. She counted heads instead: for two weeks she wrote down how many people were turned away after eight, and the number was never below twelve.
With that piece of paper, the council agreed to a trial. The library now opens late for six weeks a year, in January and in June. On the busiest night last winter, ninety-four people were inside at midnight.
What surprised Rosa was not the students. It was the parents who started coming too, some to study for their own exams, some just to sit somewhere warm and quiet. One of them told her that it was the first time in years she had read a whole chapter without being interrupted.
Parole che forse non conosci
- to be thrown outessere mandato fuori
- town councilcomune
- budgetbilancio
- to turn someone awaynon far entrare qualcuno
- trialprova, periodo di prova
Domande
Si risponde con il testo davanti. Non è memoria: è capire.
What did Rosa notice before she had the idea?
Students were arriving shortly before closing time — Arrivavano alle sette e mezza e li mandavano fuori mezz'ora dopo, perché chiudeva alle otto.
The council accepted the idea immediately.
False — The town council said no at first. Accettarono una prova solo dopo aver visto i numeri.
How did Rosa answer the council's objection?
She brought them a count of the people turned away — Rosa did not argue about money. She counted heads instead: contò per due settimane e non scese mai sotto dodici.
The library now opens late for ___ weeks a year.
six — The library now opens late for six weeks a year, in January and in June.
Why does the text say some students «simply worked better at night»?
To show that not everyone came because of a crowded home — Il testo dà due ragioni diverse: alcuni non avevano un angolo tranquillo a casa, «others simply worked better at night».
What surprised Rosa about the result?
That adults came as well, and not only to study — What surprised Rosa was not the students. It was the parents, alcuni per i propri esami e altri solo per stare in un posto tranquillo.