The project "LESERstimmen - Der Preis der jungen LeserInnen" received very positive reviews by the press and all others involved such as readers, librarians, authors, illustrators, publishers and other educational organisations.

It also met response in Germany where organising a similar scheme for the promotion of reading is now under consideration. Büchereiverband Österreichs was also invited to present the project at the "Salon de l'Enfant" in Luxembourg - another positive echo from abroad. It may therefore be stated that LESERstimmen has met its aims and intentions.

"We hope that there will be a lot of similar events", a librarian declared after participating in LESERstimmen. LESERstimmen 2005 was announcend in Juni 2004 in Salzburg - form January till Juni 2005 children and teenagers again are incited to read and to choose their favourite book by attending readings, workshops, picture book slide shows, meetings with authors and numerous other events!

Project Description

From January to June 2002 Austria's largest reading promotion scheme so far was carried out in public libraries and school libraries. The project "LESERstimmen" was initiated and organised by Büchereiverband Österreichs and supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.

In the course of six months children and teenagers were incited to read and to choose their favourite book by attending readings, workshops, picture book slide shows, meetings with authors and numerous other events as well as by conducting a raffle.

For the competition "Der Preis der jungen LeserInnen" (the prize of young readers) 12 children's and juvenile books were nominated by a jury consisting of representatives of institutions mediating and promoting literature, of librarians and specialised journalists. The books represent the age bracket 3 to 16 and mirror the diversity of the Austrian literary production. The nominees - authors and illustrators - committed themselves to hold at least 30 readings or workshops each within the timeframe of January to June 2002.

All libraries in Austria received posters, information folders and election cards and were asked to display the material for the duration of the project - all in all 1.1 Million readers were called up to choose their favourite book. The "Preis der jungen LeserInnen" was endowed with € 5,100.- and was awarded to the book that received most of the votes.

Results

• Largest reading promotion scheme: 2,654 public and school libraries participated.
• Largest jury in Austria: 137,954 readers elected their favourite book.
• More than 390 readings and workshops: within 6 months authors and illustrators were touring through all regions of Austria.
• 300 additional reading events: by using reading animation material provided by Büchereiverband Österreichs, librarians were able to carry out their own activities.
• Support of Austrian authors and illustrators: each nominee received at least € 9,820.- in remunerations.
• Gain of new readers: attracted by appealing events new readers were attained.
• Improved image of Austria's public libraries as institutions of literary mediation.
• Creation of contacts between librarians and authors for future reading events.