Reading Promotion Programs in Lithuanian Public Libraries

Abstract

In recent years, the growing importance of information technology has changed the environment that determines many habits, including reading. Nowadays, act of reading a paper book has to compete with other activities. Libraries also have to adapt to the digital generation of reading habits and skills, offer new activities and link reading programs with information technology. This poster represents various formats of reading promotion from 18 public libraries in Lithuania: • Programme‘s Summer with a Book, Reading Challenge invites you to read 5 books on various topics to win great prizes. Approximately 16,000 readers from all over Lithuania have participated this year; • Reading Festival seeks to promote reading and literature via works of modern and classical authors. In two days, about 50 different events are held for youth including meetings with authors, lectures, educational activities, and concerts; • Everyone who visits Literary Pharmacy gets a funny literature prescription written by the librarians; • Beach Library encourages reading during holidays; • The Scented Books Salon – innovative way to encourage reading with scents; • Book clubs; • E- owls is a programme that allows children to become detectives – equipped with the barcode reader they have to return books to The Traveling Bookcase and find out who was the book thief. • Maminukai Academy - a program for pre-school children and their parents, seeking to improve reading skills; • Educational activity Ethno Carpet of Aukštaitija that is based on app and 3D figures encourages young participants to get acquainted with the famous hillforts, settlements, places of worship and other values reflecting the identity of the region. • Travel with a Book programme install bookshelves into city buses.