Ljubljana promotes reading among children over the summer

The Poletavci project is back for yet another summer to help youngsters get into the habit of reading

The Ljubljana City Library is hosting its renowned reading initiative yet again this summer. The project called “Poletavci” envisions helping and stimulating children aged between 7 and 12 to read daily and thus improve their reading skills and create a very useful and positive habit. Participants can read whatever they want – books, comics, articles, newspapers, it doesn’t matter, so long as they do it for 30 minutes a day for 30 days over the summer. Parents can register their kids for the initiative either via an online form or by going to their nearest library where they will find the necessary documentation. On 20 September, children who have submitted their filled-out leaflets, reporting their reading progress and who have completed the 30-day reading marathon will be eligible for prizes – such as T-shirts, medals and other awards.

Youngsters aged between 13 and 16 are also allowed to participate in the event. They are encouraged to read three books and write a review, which will later be published on the library’s website. They will also be eligible for rewards at the end of the project.

The initiative has been a resounding success. After being contained within the confines of the Ljubljana City Library, it has now spread throughout the whole country – and even beyond its borders. 17 libraries in Slovenia are taking part in the initiative as well as children in Slovenian schools in Italy and attendees of Slovene classes in Berlin and other cities.