READING PROMOTION IN THE ZAGREB CITY LIBRARIES THROUGH THE CHILDREN’S JURY OF THE GRIGOR VITEZ AWARD

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to present the activities of the Children’s Jury of the “Grigor Vitez Award“ organized by the Croatian Center for Children’s Books at the Zagreb City Libraries and reading promotion among older primary school children. It also seeks to emphasize the importance of collaboration between the library and external partners in achieving the goals of reading promotion. Approach/methodology. After an introduction to the topic of reading promotion, the first part of the paper presents children’s juries in the world and in Croatia, as well as programs to promote reading in the Zagreb City Libraries. The second part of the paper explains in detail the work, activities, and importance of the Children’s Jury in reading promotion among children and young people. Findings. Children’s scoring of books, their written explanations and selection of the best books reveal what children love and want to read. Having the right to directly select the award winners of the „Ptičica Award“, the children members the Children’s Jury are given special importance, as well as the libraries from which they come and the librarians who have recommended them. Also, the award winners are especially honoured to receive the award from the children for whom they wrote or illustrated the book. Since the award-winning books are popular and gladly read, the members of the Children’s Jury are a positive example and encouragement to other children in reading quality literature. Practical implications. In the Croatian Association of the Societies „Naša djeca“, there is a vision to expand the „Grigor Vitez Award“ through cooperation with other Croatian libraries in the organization of additional content and programs, including the Children’s Jury. Social implications. Through reading promotion, developing critical thinking, and enhancing the freedom of expression of children and youth through the work of the Children’s Jury, the library, as their organizer, plays an important role in building a better society as a whole. Originality/value. The Children’s jury of the „Grigor Vitez Award“ is the only children’s jury for children’s and youth literature in Croatia that selects the best books and awards in two categories: text and illustration, which gives importance to both the writer and the illustrator of the literary work.