Stimulation of reading in Croatia

IP LibCMASS 2011Contract Contract № 2011-№ 2011-ERAERA--IP-IP-77SULSIT, Sofia 4 - 17 Sept.

Zagreb Team

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Croatian Reading Association

• nongovernmental, nonprofit and voluntary organization

• mission: to stimulate, research and improve reading and literacy

• activities: • organization of professional education

programme• publishing (bulletins, proceedings, books...)

• HRČAK - journal of CRA

...

• activites for:• International Literacy Day• Month of Croatian Book• Interliber...

• international cooperation• CRA is member of International Reading Association -

IRA

• Recent activity - “Reading at the city’s points”3

Zagreb City Libraries

• modern and well-organized network of public libraries

• central library for all public and school libraries in the City of Zagreb and sourranding places

• one of the greatest cultural institutions in the town• 44 libraries

• Literary Friday, Month of the Croatian Book...

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1. Month of the Croatian Book (15.10.-15.11.)

• traditional manifestation since 1995• mostly in the public libraries in Croatia• objective: the promotion of books as a

fundamental social value

• in 1995 = 105 libraries, 500 activities and events• in 2010 = 180 libraries, over 2000 different

activities and events

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1.b. Quiz for promoting a reading for school children

• since 1998• Croatian Center For Children's Book • 2010 – more than 4.000 participants (children!)• each year dedicated to one writer• the questions are about a selection of the writer’s

books• each book – 4 types of questions:

– Yes or no

– What doesn't belong

– Multiple-choice – Short text questions

2. Best reader award

• public and school libraries• usually for the International Children's Book Day

(02.04.)

• celebration• diploma & prizes• interview for school, library or local newspaper,

radio-shows...

2. Library Dugave – “KLJUČ”

• Klub LJUbitelja Čitanja - Love reading club (Children‘s section of the library)

• Ključ = key

• project “Key to knowledge”

• aim: to make a collection of children‘s recensions of all types of books

– A4 format

– In any language

– Basic information about the book’s content

– Recension, Pictures, drawings...

• meetings of the Club members

3. Literary Friday

• since 1955.

• public lecture and discussion with the aim of popularizing reading

• wide range of themes:

– Language

– Sociology

– Philosophy,

– Art...

• local and foreing guesses

• special role in the 50s

4. Week of good book

• 2011• a joint project of Croatian publishers and

booksellers• goal: to promote reading culture in Croatia

through a change of perception of the book and highlight the diversity of available publications - there are books for everyone and for every taste

Activities in general...

• Books for babies• Story-telling - a playroom for children under 3

years old• “Mouse”- Small IT School (Koprivnica)• “Friday for reading a book”• “Little library”

...

Thank you for your attention!!

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Questions

1) Is a good system of public libraries enough for the stimulation of reading? Explain your answer.

2) To which group of users should the activities be orientated and why?

3) Should be any taboo themes in adolescents' reading clubs?

4) Should the librarians that lead reading clubs be specialy train? In which field?

5) Should the stimulation of reading be mention in the mission statement of every library or is that one of its obvius functions? 14