For the second time now Büchereiverband Österreichs (BVÖ) successfully organised the largest reading festival in Austria: "LESERstimmen – Der Preis der jungen LeserInnen" ("The Prize of Young Readers"). The reading promotion scheme was supported by the Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture.

From January to June 2005 twelve authors and four illustrators were touring throughout Austria. They held more than 450 readings or workshops in libraries. Furthermore, librarians arranged numerous other reading promotion events such as slide presentations of picture books and reading nights.

The aims of the festival are the promotion of reading in libraries, the staging of Austrian authors and the support of publishers as well as the book trade in Austria. At the same time, public and school libraries call attention to their role as local organisers of literary events. By participating in readings, workshops, slide presentations and games that refer to books, children and teenagers learn to enjoy reading, they are able to approach literature effortlessly. The emphasis of these reading promotion activities is put on fun and enjoyment.

The 12 LESERstimmen-Books, their Authors and Illustrators

In September 2004 twelve children’s and juvenile books were nominated for election. Out of these, children and youths then elected their favourite.

The following books had been nominated for LESERstimmen 2005:

Frau Bund und Hund, Helga Bansch, Verlag Jungbrunnen
Der Zapperdockel und der Wock, Georg Bydlinski, Dachs Verlag
Herr Jemineh hat Glück, Heinz Janisch/Selda Marlin Soganci (Ill.), NP Buchverlag
Maxeline Regenschirm, Jutta Treiber/Birgit Antoni (Ill.), Dachs Verlag
Neun nackte Nilpferddamen. Aller Unsinn macht Spaß, Gerda Anger-Schmidt/Renate Habinger (Ill.), NP Buchverlag
Schmetterling Fetterling, Franzobel/Sibylle Vogel (Ill.), Picus Verlag
Nil Nautilus startet durch, Stefan Karch, G&G Buchverlag
Katzenmusik, Renate Welsh, Obelisk Verlag
Spezialeinheit Kreiner: Ein Fall für alle Fälle, Adelheid Dahimène, NP Buchverlag
Kein Hundeleben für Bartolomé, Rachel van Kooij, Verlag Jungbrunnen
Die glorreichen Rüben: Rache-Bengel, Christoph Mauz, Dachs Verlag
Lasagne für Lina, Michael Schmid, Dachs Verlag

LESERstimmen Promotion Material

In November 2004 more than 2.900 libraries received posters, folders, voting cards and bookmarks. The promotion material was used for advertising as well as decorative measures.

Stickers and Reading Animation Booklets
To support the libraries in organising LESERstimmen-events (many Austrian libraries have to rely on volunteers!), BVÖ produced and allocated LESERstimmen-stickers and a booklet containing easily implementable concepts for reading animation activities in February 2005.

More than 600 Readings, Workshops, Picture Book Slide Shows and Other Events
More than 450 readings or workshops by authors and illustrators as well as numerous other reading promotion events have been held in Austrian libraries between January and June 2005. The events were accompanied by the website www.leserstimmen.at, which contained downloadable promotion material, suggestions for press releases and other practical information. The site also included a calendar of events, where visitors could search for readings and workshops of certain authors or in their district. In the course of LESERstimmen we also published reports on readings written by librarians.

Feedback
"The students were delighted and there was a run for the books" (Public Library Bad Leonfelden)
"It certainly was a \'celebration of listening!\'" (School Library of the Franciscans, Ried)
"To cut a long story short: It was a complete success!!!" (Vienna Public Libraries, Weimarerstraße branch)

The Prize Draw
Since January 2005 BVÖ received bundles of voting cards almost every day. The young readers were called to vote for their favourite LESERstimmen-book. By participating in the election, readers as well as libraries automatically entered the lottery.
The main prizes are a stay in a children’s hotel in Carinthia (a week for two children and two adults, sponsored by "KinderHotels") and a journey to the Leipzig Book Fair 2006 (for a librarian of the winning library). The other 250 winners received books, tickets for zoos, museums or similar institutions.

LESERstimmen in all libraries in Austria

The specific value of the project LESERstimmen lies in the co-operation of all public libraries and school libraries in Austria. By the concerted nationwide action the single library may gain added value:

Higher Attention: Many libraries place more notices in media than a single library, thereby creating a higher potential of attention for the whole sector.

More Sponsors: A few libraries working together may attract more interesting sponsors, as their presence will not be constricted to a single location.

Recall Value: LESERstimmen may be recognised throughout the country as every library received posters, folders and other promotion material for distribution.

„Der Preis der jungen LeserInnen“ ("The Prize of Young Readers")

On June 21st, 2005 the secret was revealed: More than 142.000 children and youths had cast their vote and elected one of the 12 nominated LESERstimmen-books. "Katzenmusik" by the renowned author of children’s books Renate Welsh had received the "Preis der jungen LeserInnen".

Award Ceremony
The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Culture Ms Elisabeth Gehrer awarded Renate Welsh with € 5.000,- on the occasion of the award ceremony in the Audienzsaal of the Ministry on June 21st, 2005.

In her address, Renate Welsh emphasised the importance of reading and stated her hope that LESERstimmen will have many happy returns – so do we!