Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has today announced the appointment, with immediate effect, of Mario Maiocchi as chief executive of Mondadori Direct S.p.A., a company of the Mondadori Group – led by chief executive Ernesto Mauri – that operates in the retail sector.

Mondadori Direct, which operates across the country through a chain of over 550 shops – either wholly owned bookstores, of which 8 are multicenters, or franchised outlets – and online with the inMondadori.it site, which in 2012 generated total revenues of €245 million.

The board of directors of Mondadori Direct S.p.A. has at the same time appointed Mario Resca as chairman. Resca who, among other things, boasts an extensive and consolidated experience in Italian and international retailing was the man behind the McDonald’s phenomenon in Italy.

Maiocchi, 57, who was born in Bolzano and has a degree in economics and business administration from Milan’s Bocconi University, has had a significant career in different companies, both in Italy and abroad. He began his career at 3M Italia, moving in 1985 to Control Data Corporation, then Nashua and, in 1990, EMI Music. From 1998 Maiocchi occupied a series of positions with growing responsibility at the Metro Group, until 2008 when he was appointed chief executive of Unieuro, part of the European Dixons Retail Group where, in 2010, he was appointed managing director for South Europe.

Mondadori warmly thanks Renato Rodenghi, who leaves his operating responsibilities after having, in a long career in the Group, made a significant contribution to the development of Italy’s largest bookshop chain and the birth of a multi-channel system for the offline and online sale of mainly media products.

The Mondadori Group today announced the arrival in Italy of the new Kobo Arc. The 7″ Android tablet from the Kobo family is now available to order from inMondadori.it/kobo and, from tomorrow, from 60 Mondadori bookstores.

With the arrival of Kobo Arc from the first week of December, Mondadori extends the range of products for the mobile use of media content, not just ebooks but also magazines, web access, music, news, videos, apps and everything from the world of social media.

Orders can be made on inMondadori.it/kobo and at selected bookstores for all of the Kobo Arc models (16 GB at €199, 32 GB at €249 and 64 GB at €299) with which, exclusively in Italy, you can read for free for 3 months some of the most popular Mondadori titles: Donna Moderna, Grazia, Panorama and Sale&Pepe.

Mondadori has also extended to Kobo Arc the promotion that allows you to download three free ebooks of your choice from a selection of nine of the biggest current bestsellers: Sveva Casati Modignani’s Léonie, Michael Connelly’s Il respiro del drago; Pierre Dukan’s La dieta Dukan; Sebastian Fitzek’s Il cacciatore di occhi; L’inverno del mondo by Ken Follett; Il linguaggio segreto del volto by Anna Guglielmi; 1Q84 by Murakami Haruki; Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs and Cinquanta sfumature di grigio by EL James.

In addition to most used service apps, already loaded on the Kobo Arc – Skype™, Twitter®, YouTube and Zinio® – Italian users will have immediate access to the apps Tgcom24, VideoMediaset and SportMediaset.

Kobo Arc is designed to facilitate rapid interaction with content – from “notes” to highlights thanks to Tapestry – and quickly find others: the “Discover” navigation bar suggests content, based on the users’ interests, web pages, articles, books, music and movies, free or paid.
The Kobo Arc tablet also provides access to more than 700,000 applications available from the Google Play store, 20 million songs and thousands of movies. The 1.5GHz processor – among the fastest available in a tablet – the WiFi connection and advanced multimedia features, including front speakers and a 7” HD 1280×800 high-resolution display with over 1 million pixels, make for an engaging user experience with of any type of content.Through Skype and front facing 720p HD video camera, Kobo Arc is also perfect for video chat.

Kobo has an open philosophy that encourages people to read at any time, anywhere on the device of their choice. The eReading platform automatically synchronises both users’ libraries across all Kobo devices (from the Kobo Arc to the Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo and Kobo Mini eReaders) and free applications to any desktop, tablet, eReader or smartphone. With over 10 million users around the world, Kobo offers a very extensive choice with the new family of eReaders, a growing catalogue of more than 3 million eBooks and content in 60 languages.

For more information about orders and avalaibility please visit: www.inmondadori.it

Kobo Arc: Specifications
Size: 120 mm x 11.5 mm x 189 mm.
Weight: 364 g.
Processor: Texas Instruments OMAP 4470, 1.5 GHz (Dual Core).
Screen: HD 7″ 1280 x 800 resolution, 215 ppi, 16.4 million colours
RAM: 1 GB.
Display: IPS LCD optimized for viewing at 178°; durable glass, resistant to being dropped and damage, scratch and impact resistant.
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro USB and WiFi Direct.
Memory: 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB, depending on product availability.
Camera: 720p HD 1.3 megapixel front camera, Skype™ certified
Battery life: Up to 10 hours of continuous recording/playback with WiFi off, over 2 weeks of standby time
Sensors: Accelerometer, ambient light detector.
Colours: Available in black or white.
Audio: Two integrated front speakers with SRS TruMedia™. Support for 5.1 audio with headphones. Built-in microphone. Universal 3.5 mm stereo input.

*Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc.

inMondadori is the new multi-channel ecosystem that brings together Mondadori Group’s retail activities. In line with a strategy of convergence between online and offline, Mondadori has launched a project for the renovation of its network of stores across Italy and the online bookstore Bol.it, which are grouped together with all the other retail channels under the brand inMondadori.

InMondadori is a new structure that will integrate all points of contact, both physical and digital, with customers, engaging as they select and purchase goods and strengthening the offer. It is also based on a multi-platform logic that will gradually embrace the entire network of 600 Mondadori stores across the country and trading under the names Mondadori Multicenter and Librerie Mondadori, directly managed and franchised outlets, as well as the Bookclub and Edicolè outlets.

“We are seeing also in Italy a process of convergence between offline and online retail,” said Renato Rodenghi, Chairman and Managing Director of Mondadori Direct. “We want to follow the customer, who is increasingly connected and mobile, from pre-to post-sales and vice versa, under the umbrella of a single strong brand. The digital challenge for a book retailer is therefore to speak to their customers in a more effective way, even on channels that are complementary to the physical, and to understand their habits and expectations,” Rodenghi concluded.

InMondadori will therefore be the brand name that will appear on the network of Mondadori shops and online, on the website inMondadori.it, which will fully absorb in November also Bol.it. The new store, dedicated to the purchase of editorial and digital products and launched on the occasion of the arrival in Italy of the Kobo eReader series, is able to offer an innovative sales and distribution system, thanks to synergies with Mondadori’s retail system. A catalogue of over 11 million products: including ebooks in 67 languages, the whole series of Kobo eReaders, books in Italian and foreign languages, school textbooks and a wide range of films, music, games, electronics and gift ideas.
InMondadori.it also makes reading suggestions and provides information and updates on all events, promotions and activities organised by the bookshops spread across Italy. It is also possible to take advantage of a host of services for customers, including “Punto di Ritiro” (which allows you to choose a product online and pick it up at one of the outlets, or to order in one of the Mondadori shops across Italy and have it delivered to your home) and the annual subscription “inVia Free” which eliminates delivery charges.

The “Experience Collection” thematic notebooks
The range of Emporio Mondadori stationary and gift ideas launches its new line of customizable thematic notebooks from the “Experience Collection”, dedicated to all lovers of books, travel, gastronomy and wine.

At the crossroads of passion, experience and memory, these new diaries allow you to collect and organise information, memories and special moments. “Experience Collection” is made up of four notebooks full of sections to be completed and enriched by the contributions exceptional editors.

Gourmets will find in My FOOD Diary ideas and suggestions of the renowned chef Davide Oldani for a natural and refined cuisine without waste.

In My WINE Diary Luca Maroni, a world-renowned winemaker, accompanies connoisseurs on a tour of the taste and quality of wine.

My BOOK Diary meanwhile, is edited by the writer Chiara Gamberale who shares her deep love for reading and shows how books can change your life.

Between the pages of My TRAVEL Diary travel lovers will find an ideal companion for adventure in Licia Colò, who is able to make each trip an unforgettable experience.

With innovative graphics and design, the notebooks are rigorously ecological, with attention to every detail, and enriched with 250 coloured stickers and a special features section that can be removed.

The “Experience Collection” notebooks are on sale in bookshops and stationers at the price of €19.90.

Box Experience Collection
“Box Experience Collection” is the new line of Emporio Mondadori gift ideas dedicated to those who love to cultivate their passions: from a taste for good wine to that for chocolate, and from creativity in the kitchen to eco-gardening and the joy of discovering new travel destinations.

“Box Experience Collection” includes eight subjects, each consisting of an illustrated book and an accessory packed in a decorated tin box.

In Andar per VINO connoisseurs can discover the wonderful world of wineries or simply enjoy the pleasure of a good glass of wine and try new special combinations. The box also includes a wine pourer with a silicon cap and a base.

For those who can’t resist desserts Passione CIOCCOLATO is a must which, in addition to the book, proposes a set of 12 chocolate cups in 4 subjects and colours, and delicious BISCOTTI along with a wooden handled mould and the words, in English, “Made with love”.

Lovers of cake design meanwhile will find a number of ideas to create pastry masterpieces in TORTE d’artista (designer cakes) thanks to the thematic book and set of 6 tools for cake modelling and decoration.

With the recipes in Buono come il PANE (as good as bread) you can prepare homemade bread, from basic to the most imaginative formats, and store it in a wonderful bread bag.

Il VIAGGIATORE curioso (the curious traveller) is a gift idea for anyone who loves to discover new routes or looking for different holiday ideas. Also inside the box is a shoe bag for travel.

L’ORTO in un metro quadro (a vegetable garden in a square metre) with the trowel for gardening is perfect for those who want to test their green fingers, while, thanks to the suggestions of L’ORTO in vaso (a garden in a pot) and two decorations, you can create a beautiful do-it-yourself garden.

“Box Experience Collection” is on sale in bookshops and stationers at the price of €19.90.

Box for You
The Mondadori “BOX FOR YOU” line offers gift ideas and activities for leisure, aimed at all enthusiasts of Taste, Health, Culture, Journeys of the Spirit, Nature, Passion, Fun, Sports and Entertainment.

“BOX FOR YOU” is characterised by a wide range of options to allow customer to decide what is most appropriate.

Each box contains an extensive catalogue of offers with photos, descriptive texts and practical information, also available online (www.boxforyou.it). And inside a pre-paid voucher to benefit from the choice.

New to “BOX FOR YOU”, two boxes to watch live broadcasts on Italia 1, Rete 4 and Canale 5 and find out how it feels to be part of a television programme. With “Vieni in tv” and “Una giornata in tv” you can be a member of the audience of, among other programmes, Amici, C’è posta per te, Uomini e Donne, Iene Story, Mattino 5, Pomeriggio 5, Forum and Verissimo.

The “BOX FOR YOU” range (prices start from €29.90) also features:

• “Delizie del palato”, “Gusto Di-vino”, “Notte Gourmet”, “Viaggiare con gusto” and “La cena è servita” for those who organise trips out of town or a weekend to discover the flavours of Italian food and wine;
• “Coccole per due”, “È ora del relax!” and “Benessere Premium” to pamper yourself when you are tired of the frenetic week at spas, wellness or fitness centres;
• “I percorsi del benessere” and “Trattiamoci bene”, short breaks to relax body and mind at some of Italy’s most enchanting locations;
• “A Tutto Sport” and “Sempre in forma”, for excursions to some of the most beautiful places of the peninsula or home-based personal training;
• “Il fascino della cultura”, “Weekend culturale” and “Vacanze Romane”, to visit the Italy’s most important cities;
• “Scrinium” to experience unique Journeys of the Spirit: “Nella Roma Cristiana”, “Roma e il Vaticano”, “I Tesori dello Spirito”, “Le Sorgenti dello Spirito” and “Natale a Betlemme”;
• “Oasi di pace” and “A contatto con la natura”, for those who want to get away from the traffic to green countryside and clean air;
• “Il mio amico a quattro zampe” and “Divertimento in famiglia”, for a creative and relaxing break, with activities for everyone to enjoy;
• “Tavolo per due” and “Sogni d’amore”, perfect for a romantic getaway.

“BOX FOR YOU” also provides a “Booking Centre” for customers who choose a trip with an overnight stay, or a box from the Scrinium or Spettacolo lines: by calling 199.11.99.88 or sending an e-mail to prenota@boxforyou.it, you can submit your request. In the case of non-availability alternatives will be proposed along with all the relevant information. When you choose a single day activity, can contact the selected structure directly.

The Mondadori Group will launch the award-winning Kobo Touch™ eReader tomorrow. Priced at €99, it will be sold at more than 350 Mondadori stores and online at inMondadori.it. Also coming in October are the newest additions to the Kobo Family, the Kobo Glo™ eReader, for €129 and the Kobo Mini™ eReader at the low price of €79.

Mondadori supports the most extensive network of bookshops and one of the largest online media stores in Italy, with a catalogue of more than nine million products. This makes for the ideal platform to offer the Kobo Family of devices to Italian consumers. Kobo’s open and flexible eReading platform is the ideal solution for consumers to easily read what they want, when they want, where they want.

“Technology is rapidly changing and transforming the world of reading and content distribution. The arrival of Kobo eReaders allows us to share Mondadori’s quality content to an even wider audience,” said Maurizio Costa, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Mondadori Group. “The challenge is to find a way of reaching customers through all available channels – from physical to online – offering content across as many platforms as possible. Mondadori’s original approach brings together the strengths of our editorial resources, our chain of bookshops and online services,” Costa concluded.

“eReading is growing rapidly across Europe, and while still in the early adoption phase Italian readers are waiting for a superior, easy, eReading solution like Kobo to be offered in Italy.” said Mike Serbinis, CEO, Kobo. “Through our partnership with Mondadori, we are offering the Italian consumer a new and truly exciting way to read.”

The phenomenon of digital reading is a real opportunity for growth: the strength of the Mondadori portfolio coupled with the innovative and open Kobo reading platform provides a real growth opportunity for the Italian market with a cutting-edge digital reading solution and access to great content for consumption across multiple platforms. Readers can search for their favourite titles with maximum flexibility: on the digital devices or in Mondadori’s in physical stores where, in addition to being able to buy the Kobo eReader, they can purchase and download e-books using the Wi-Fi connection. All of which is in line with a multichannel logic, aimed at following readers through all the stages of purchase and use.
This strategy of online and offline convergence, is also reflected in the project for the refurbishment of the Mondadori stores and Bol.it, which will be grouped under a single brand, in Mondadori. The aim of this project is to strengthen customer service by integrating all points of contact, both in-person and online.

Mondadori and Kobo make accessing one of the world’s largest eBook stores very simple. Customers have access to 3 million titles – of which 1 million are free – directly on their Kobo eReader or through www.inMondadori.it. The Kobo platform offers more than a robust catalogue of Italian-language eBooks from leading publishers. In addition, Kobo is an open- eReading platform that allows for reading without restrictions. Customers can read their eBooks with Kobo as well as on other platforms that support file formats such as ePubs and PDFs. Kobo provides free eReading apps fo most popular devices device -from smartphones to desktops to tablets. Readers’ bookmarks are synched across all of their devices, which means they never have to worry about losing their spot in their favourite eBook.

The launch of the Kobo Touch eReader is accompanied by a special promotion allowing customers to download three free eBooks from a selection of nine current bestselling Italian titles: Sveva Casati Modignani, Léonie; Michael Connelly, Il respiro del drago; Pierre Dukan, La dieta Dukan; Sebastian Fitzek, Il cacciatore di occhi; Ken Follett, L’inverno del mondo; Anna Guglielmi, Il linguaggio segreto del volto; Murakami Haruki, 1Q84; Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs; and EL James, Cinquanta sfumature di grigio.

§

About Kobo Inc.

Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering nearly 3-million eBooks, magazines and newspapers. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo has built an open-standards platform to provide consumers with a choice when reading. Inspired by an open philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo has expanded to nearly 190 countries, where millions of consumers have access to localized eBook catalogues and with the recently launched family of eReaders – offers an eReader for everyone. With top-ranked eReading applications for most popular devices, Kobo allows consumers to make eReading social through Facebook Timeline and Reading Life, an industry-first social experience that lets users earn awards for time spent reading and encourage others to join in. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains across the globe.
For more information, visit www.kobo.com.

THE NEW LINEUP OF KOBO eREADERS

KOBO TOUCH – THE MOST NATURAL READING EXPERIENCE
The award-winning Kobo Touch, named Wired’s #1 eReader in 2012, and the industry’s first touch-screen eReader is available in stores around the world.. . The Kobo Touch includes Kobo’s latest software with more ways to personalize the reading experience, get recommendations and discover new content. The Kobo Touch is available in seven languages including Italian, English, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese.

Specifications
Measurements: 114 x 165 x 10 mm
Weight: 185g
Display: 6-inch E Ink Pearl, 16 levels of grey
Navigation: Touchscreen
Memory: 2GB (1GB available to the user, equivalent to 1,000 books), expandable to 32GB with an SD Memory Card
Connectivity: Micro USB, Wi-Fi
File formats: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF. TXT, HTML, TRF, CBZ, CBR
Characters: 7 fonts, 24 sizes
Battery life: up to 1 month

KOBO GLO – READ COMFORTABLY DAY OR NIGHT
The new front-lit Kobo Glo is the next generation in comfortable eReading. It offers innovative, soft, even and adjustable ComfortLight technology to enable consumers to read anytime – day or night. Its durable screen and customizable page-turning features make it the perfect eReader for the booklover. The Kobo Glo uses E Ink technology, customizable fonts and a no-glare XGA high-resolution 6” E Ink screen that is just like reading print on paper, and connects easily to Wi Fi allowing consumers to explore and discover recommendations in the Kobo eBookstore. The Kobo Glo eReader comes in Black or White and a selection of stylish back colours – Pink Sunset, Blue Moon, Silver Star.

Specifications
Measurements: 114 x 157 x 10 mm
Weight: 185g
Display: 6-inch E Ink Pearl XGA, 1026×768 resolution, 16 levels of grey
Display: illuminated front Comfortlight technology, anti-glare
Navigation: Touchscreen
Memory: 2GB (1GB available to the user, equivalent to 1,000 books), expandable to 32GB with an SD Memory Card
Connectivity: Micro USB, Wi Fi
File formats: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF. TXT, HTML, TRF, CBZ, CBR
Characters: 7 fonts, 24 sizes
Battery life: up to 1 month (light and Wi-Fi turned off), up to 55 hours of continuous use with illumination

KOBO MINI – SMALL IS A BIG DEAL
The Kobo Mini is the world’s smallest and lightest full-featured E Ink eReader available today, offering the full Kobo experience at a great value. Proving that great things come in small packages, the 5” Kobo Mini easily fits in your purse or pocket and is loaded with all of the amazing features Kobo customers have come to know and love. Just like reading print on paper, the no-glare 5” E Ink screen is easy on the eyes – even in bright sunlight. The Kobo Mini comes in black or white and offers a selection of three stylish Kobo SnapBacks in Teal, Ruby Red, and Purple. Perfect for people on-the-go, young adults, and easy for first-time readers to hold and read, the highly portable Kobo Mini holds up to 1,000 eBooks.

Specifications
Measurements: 102 x 133 x 10 mm
Weight: 134g
Display: 5-inch E Ink, Vizplex V110 display, 16 levels of grey
Navigation: Touchscreen
Memory: 2GB (1GB available to the user, equivalent to 1,000 books)
Connectivity: Micro USB, Wi Fi
File formats: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF. TXT, HTML, TRF, CBZ, CBR
Characters: 7 fonts, 24 sizes
Battery life: up to 1 month

Bol.it, the Mondadori Group’s online mediastore with over 9 million products in the catalogue, is launching – to coincide with the start of the new school year a ” School Special “, a new section where you can buy all of the textbooks adopted by middle and high schools for the year 2012/2013.

Thanks to an agreement signed with AIE (the Italian Publishers’ Association) Bol.it users can access the complete list of books adopted by all Italian schools: an interactive map of Italy allows users to easily order the texts, selecting the school and indicating the class involved.

Thanks to this service parents and students can enjoy a number of benefits, including the avoidance of the traditional queues at bookstores for the purchase of texts, payment on receipt and receive the books at home or at one of 80 affiliated bookstores.

In addition, for purchases of over €49 Bol.it will give a dictionary, either Italian or English, and a €5 voucher to spend on Emporio Mondadori items or other articles of stationery or school accessories.

The service will remain available for the entire school year in order to encourage even last minute purchases. For orders of over €19 euros delivery is free.

In the Duomo square Multicenter, Mondadori has opened “MOBI”, a newly conceived space dedicated to kids.

Created for children, but also for their parents, this is a colorful and cozy place right in the heart of Milan, where you can play and develop language skills accompanied by “Mobi” (Mondadori Bimbo) to discover books. Inside this space, in fact, on top of a very wide selection of books and toys divided and selected by age group, many didactic and play activities take place, with the aim of teaching children how to read actively, consciously and with enthusiasm.

Indeed “MOBI” is innovative in the design of its fittings, but most of all for the didactic contents supplied by MUBA (Museo dei Bambini Milano – Children’s Museum of Milan) and amusement opportunities created by multimedia paths and creative labs.

Many of the suggested activities foresee the use of tablets, with which children can interact and increase their imagination. Through 10 iPad, positioned on a large interactive platform in the center of the room, they can build their own ideal e-book, a veritable electronic book, with cover, title, author, and short story. The youngest (0 to 6 years old) will work thanks to illustrations, while the eldest (6 to 12 years old), will measure themselves against a more structured story. Moreover, by connecting to www.mobimondadori.it and by retrieving the e-book created inside the Mondadori Multicenter, it is possible to read the book itself on one’s iPad, color it and print it at home.

Creative labs also propose to children the exploration and the discovery of storytelling with reference to the four main themes developed in the multimedia project: the story’s characters, places, animals and travels.

Organized classes from January to May at MOBI every Sunday are free with necessary booking; the first event will take place on Sunday 8 January with two sessions (from 3 to 4 pm and from 4.30 to 5 pm) on the location of stories for children between the ages of 4 and 6; the complete schedule and all information on application are available at the Multicenter store.
Mondadori Multicenter opens its door to students too: the initiative Alunni in libreria (students in the bookstore) has been renewed. It offers a visit to discover the bookstore with a non-scholastic approach to reading. Meetings will take place in the mornings until May, from Monday to Friday (info 0245441161).

As a completion to the Mondadori Multicenter offer for kids, Sale&Pepe cooking classes for children will take place in February on the store’s “Cook&Books” floor: many meetings for youngsters to experiment with their own imagination while cooking and learning how to select ingredients. The class schedule can be found on www.corso-di-cucina.it .

The Duomo square Mondadori Multicenter is the largest space dedicated to culture and leisure in the heart of Milan. The store, with a surface of 4.000 square meters, offers its customers a wide range of books and dvds, a news stand and an exclusive line of stationary, gadgets and gifts; on the second floor you can find the most up to date digital technology, computers and phones. All this makes the Mondadori Multicenter a very pleasant meeting space for the whole family, where you can dive into culture surrounded by an atmosphere rich in stimuli and novelties.

Mondadori has announced the launch of “BOX FOR YOU”, a line of packaged gift sets featuring ideas for leisure for fans of taste, wellbeing, arts & culture, nature and passion.

“With this initiative Mondadori enters the market for gift box sets that is evolving very rapidly also in Italy, and showing a significant rate of growth,” explained Renato Rodenghi, chairman and managing director of Mondadori Direct. “BOX FOR YOU is also a further demonstration of the capacity of the Group to diversify its offer to meet the needs of new targets with a business that covers the entire value chain of the product, from the design, development and production of content, to the production and distribution of the product”, Rodenghi concluded.

“BOX FOR YOU”, which is on sale at the 600 outlets of the Group’s network (Librerie Mondadori, Edicolè, Mondadori Multicenter, Librerie Mondadori Junior, Librerie Gulliver and the Mondolibri shps) and on the web site Bol.it, features a wide choice of structures across the country, so that customers can decide the destination they prefer.
The box contains an extensive catalogue of offers, with photos, written descriptions and practical information, that can also be accessed online (www.boxforyou.it), and a thematic book (taste, wellbeing, culture, nature and passion) that brings together exclusively for “BOX FOR YOU” “101 ideas” for the best way to spend your leisure time. Inside there is also a pre-paid voucher and a book of discount coupons and benefits for Mondadori products and services.

The series is made up of 9 different box sets (for 1 or 2 people, with or without an overnight stay):

• “Delizie del palato”, for those who love to organise trips out of doors in the search for the tastes of Italy;

• “Viaggiare con gusto”, a weekend of wine and food;

• “È ora del relax!”, when you want to pamper yourself after the stresses and strains of the week;

• “I percorsi del benessere”, to relax both body and mind at some of Italy’s most fascinating locations;

• “Il fascino della cultura” and “Weekend culturale” to visit the main cities of art;

• “Oasi di pace” and “A contatto con la natura”, for those who want to escape the traffic and enjoy the greenery of the countryside and some fresh air;

• “Evasione romantica”, the ideal romantic getaway.

“BOX FOR YOU” has a special “Booking Centre” for clients who choose, from the catalogue or online at www.boxforyou.it, a trip with an overnight stay, by telephoning 199.11.99.88 or sending an email to prenota@boxforyou.it, to make a request. If the trip selected is not available, an alternative will be suggested, along with all the necessary information. Those who select a day-trip, can contact the structure selected directly.

At the XXIV International Book Fair in Turin, Bol.it will launch DonaBol – Books donated by the web, a new charitable initiative that will involve the donation by Bol.it of a library to four Italian schools. The aim is to provide the schools with the texts that have had the biggest impact on the lives of readers and net users by sharing their favourite titles with friends, passing on emotions, tastes and opinions that are, in fact, exchanged and give users the sense of being a part of a community and being involved in an important initiative.

Through DonaBol, and along with those taking part, Bol.it will bring a passion for books and reading to others who can enjoy the positive effects of the actions of others. To support the schools and to give everyone the opportunity of helping kids and students become familiar with the books they deem fundamental.

The schools that will benefit from the initiative – among the most need in Milan, Turin, Naples and Palermo – have been selected thanks to the collaboration of the CGM cooperative, Italy’s largest network of social enterprises, operating across the country since 1987, which has more than 10,000 operating units and a staff of 45,000 in the various regions.

To take part in DonaBol all you need to do is visit the Bol.it stand at the Turin Book Fair (from 12 to 16 May 2011, pavilion 2, stand H126-J125) and sign up, or go to the web site www.bol.it where, from 12 May, there will be a dedicated page for Donabol, and indicate the five titles that you consider the most important in your life. When you have completed your list, the user will be invited to indicate the initiative to as many people as possible, sharing the titles on Facebook and Twitter and inviting their friends to take part. Everyone is invited to make their selection of books for DonaBol: the more contributions, the more books will be donated and the more the dream of donating a library to the four schools will become a reality.

The initiative will be launched on 12 May, with the opening of the Turin Book Fair, and will go on until the end of the month. When the collection of titles has been completed, the most selected titles will join those to be donated to the schools and Bol.it will support the head teachers of the selected schools, who will evaluate their suitability with the schools’ syllabus and needs.

Mondadori today launches “Cook&Books”, the first initiative of its kind in the heart of Milan dedicated to cooking enthusiasts.
The third floor of the Mondadori Multicenter in Piazza Duomo has been refurbished and now also features a new in-store shop focused on the pleasures of the table. With books, accessories and an authentic cookery school.

THE COURSES
At the heart of the new plan by the Mondadori Multicenter the “Cook&Books Academy” is a cookery school, created from the experience of Sale&Pepe, Cucina Moderna and Cucina no problem which will open tomorrow, Tuesday 29 March. With a real fully-equipped kitchen, the Academy will offer courses for adults as well as special courses that will be a mix of fun and teaching, to introduce children to the importance of diet, all certified by the professional staff of the Associazione Insegnanti di Cucina Italiana or AICI (the Italian cookery teachers association).
The lessons (40 sessions, to be held from March to June, and continuing from September to December) will allow all participants to learn how to select ingredients and to practise their skills on a range of courses not only on Italian, regional and international cooking but also children’s diets: an unrepeatable opportunity to discover the falvours of good cooking and the perfect preparation of dishes.
The range of thematic courses includes: “simple & chic menus” (31 March); “a passion for chocolate” (5 April); “an Easter menu” (7 April); “a dinner party in 40 minutes” (5 May); “Neapolitan pastries” (24 May); “well-dressed ice cream” (7 June) and “summer meats” (16 June).
A complete calendar of lessons offered by Sale&Pepe, Cucina Moderna and Cucina no problem and details about enrolments can be found on the web site: www.corso-di-cucina.it.

THE KITCHEN
The “Cook&Books” kitchen, where the courses will take place, is an innovative and confortable space that will allow aspiring cooks to enjoy experiencing the world of taste in a creative and functional context, thanks to partnerships with Valcucine, Neff, Irinox, Kenwood, Tescoma, Fissler, Pensofal and Emile Henry.

BOOKS, ACCESSORIES AND EVENTS
The new third floor of the Mondadori Multicenter has been organised to facilitate the alternation of displays of accessories and books, making it easier for customers to choose products and discover a natural kitchen, the art of food conservation, as well as the secrets and tricks of celebrated chefs, wine and drinks.
The display of books on the culture of Italian and international cooking is organised thematically – teas and coffee, desserts, savouries, sushi, eating for health and many more – and also features a vast selection of Italian and foreign publications and those of great chefs. Extensive space is also dedicated to Gourmet guides and guides to wine and food, such as those from the Italian regions, from Piedmont to Sicily, and the discovery of traditional flavours.
The extensive bookshop will alternate with single-brand spaces featuring design products and accessories for the preparation and cooking of dishes, selected from some of the leading manufacturers in the market. In addition to traditional utensils, “Cook&Books” offers ranges of everyday objects in avant-garde materials and small, practical and intuitive electrical appliances.
The entire “Cook&Books” plan is completed by the Mondadori Multicenter events space, which, thanks to its extensive balcony, enjoys a fantastic view of Piazza Duomo and where a series of events will be organised for cooking enthusiasts with food and wine demonstrations and the opportunity to meet and discuss issues related to eating and entertaining.

The Mondadori Multicenter in Piazza Duomo, opened in 2007, is the biggest space dedicated to culture and leisure in the centre of Milan. With a floor space of some 4,000 square metres, the store offers a wide range of books and DVDs, a large newsstand and an exclusive range of stationery, gadgets and gift ideas. The second floor is given over to modern digital technologies, computers and telephone-related products. All of which makes the Mondadori Multicenter a fantastic place to meet, where people can immerse themselves in a world of culture in a stimulating atmosphere that is also characterised by a rich array new products.

The “Cook&Books Academy” is the cookery school of the monthlies Sale&Pepe, Cucina Moderna and Cucina no problem, edited by Laura Maragliano. Sale&Pepe, the leading upscale cookery monthly, brings to the table with every issue a range of exclusive and refined suggestions, with recipes from both Italian and international gastronomic traditions.
Cucina Moderna, Italy’s best selling title in the sector, is an indispensible friend for women who love to cook, thanks to an offer that ranges from menus for special occasions to quick and nutritious everyday meals.
Cucina no problem is an innovative monthly dedicated to young couples, singles and all those who don’t want to renounce the pleasures of cooking, even when time is short and experience limited.