One of the central events of the public engagement movement “Restart for Reading” is the reading promotion programme “Children, Youth and Parents Jury 2025” which has been organised by the NLL for 25 years. Libraries, schools, diaspora centres and also individuals can apply for participation in the largest and longstanding state-funded reading promotion initiative.
The programme goal is to promote reading literacy and interest in books, unite readers and stimulate discussions about books, as well as to promote the spread of high-quality literature. The initiative of NLL’s Children’s Literature Centre funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia significantly promotes reading skills of children, youth and families, interest in Latvian literature, and strengthens national and cultural identity.
As the NLL celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Latvian books in 2025, the National Library of Latvia emphasises the right of every individual to a book and the opportunity to read in Latvian.
The public engagement movement “Restart for Reading” reminds us that reading is not a privilege, but an essential prerequisite for developing thinking and responsible citizens who will participate in democracy and the growth of Latvia. Reading books is a basic skill for the successful acquisition of every subject and the adequate perception of information, the ability to analyse and apply it in various contexts. Reading promotes creativity, imagination, improves language skills – enriches person’s ability to express themselves, gain confidence, curiosity and the joy of learning. It promotes child’s cognitive, emotional and social growth. This process perfectly strengthens relationships between a child and his or her parents and the child’s self-esteem. The health aspect is no less important – it has been proven that children who are literate get sick less often, are safer and happier.
A diverse collection of new books selected by an expert commission is available for reading and evaluation.
Each age group has five books to evaluate, while the Parents’ Jury collection has four books, with an additional suggestion to choose any two books from the rest of the collection, so that adults can also get acquainted with new releases in children’s and youth literature.
Readers will be able to evaluate the new book collection all year round, and they will give their feedback of the book they think is the best so that the results of the vote can be announced during the Great Reading Festival in March 2026. The community of the most active readers traditionally reaches 30 thousand a year.
In 2024, 898 libraries participated in the programme encouraging people to read and evaluate the latest books. 22 200 readers from Latvian schools and libraries shared their thoughts. Diaspora communities participating in 2023 were 80 centres in 30 countries.