Six projects have been nominated for the Joy of Reading Award

“Systematic – Joy of Reading Award” will be presented the 13th of June by H.K.H. Princess Laurentien from the Netherlands at DOKK1 in Aarhus. The nominees are…

Press release16 May 2017

The announcement of the 2017 winner of the new reading award Joy of Reading is approaching. The winner will be presented Tuesday the 13th of June at the International Library Conference at DOKK1 in Aarhus, but it is time to reveal the nominees.

“We have received 31 applications from 16 different countries. There has been an incredible amount of great projects to choose from, and it has been very difficult to narrow the projects down to six nominees. However, we have made a decision, and we are now left with six innovative and exciting initiatives from which we look forward to present one of them as the winner,” member of the jury and Vice President at Systematic Martin Brøchner-Mortensen says.

Innovative methods

Besides Martin Brøchner-Mortensen, the jury consists of international scientists and library managers who were chosen and put together based on their knowledge within illiteracy and reading.

Joyofreading Text

Through the process of selecting the nominated projects, the jury emphasised that the joy of reading had to be a significant part of the initiative, that the impact of the initiative should be documented, and that the initiative should reflect innovative methods or ways of thinking.

Head of the jury, City Librarian, City of Gold Coast, Australia, Marian Morgan-Bindon adds:

“We received many outstanding applications about many exciting projects that focus on the joy of reading. I am amazed with the creativity and originality these projects demonstrated. Illiteracy is a global problem, and we are dependent on projects and initiatives that make a significant difference. The Joy of Reading Award provides the opportunity to support and showcase one of these projects – but indeed all six finalists have had a significant influence on their communities and deserve to be highlighted and recognised.”

The six nominated reading projects are from The Netherlands, South Africa, United Kingdom, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Canada. The projects involve for instance the establishment of libraries, visits by voluntary readers in vulnerable homes, and online libraries, which are accessible through cell phones. Read further about the nominees.

The importance of reading

The award will be presented in collaboration with Next Library, which hosts an international library conference from the 11th of June to the 14th of June at DOKK1.

“It has been a great pleasure to be a part of setting the stage for the ceremony of this new award – and we are very excited to host the award ceremony and put emphasise on the importance of reading together with Systematic,” Rolf Hapel explains, Administration Manager at Citizen Service Centre and Libraries in Aarhus.

The importance of reading is exactly why Systematic has chosen to engage in this matter, CEO Michael Holm explains:

“As an IT company, we have a responsibility for not only the products and business areas we are engaged in, but we also face a responsibility for the community that we live in. Illiteracy is a vast, global problem, and no matter where you live in the world, reading is a fundamental prerequisite for how you cope with things in so many ways. That is what we want to emphasise with the Joy of Reading Award.”

The nominees for the Joy of Reading Award are:

20 community Libraries in Northern Burkina Faso

The establishment of 20 community libraries in which children and adults through books in their mother tongue, games, and other activities meet and are encouraged to read. The initiative also organises “reading summer camps” where young people, perhaps for the first time, are invited to camps that involve many interesting reading activities.

Doorstep Library, United Kingdom

A team of 10 home reading volunteers who make weekly visits to low income families. Together with their visits, the volunteers bring a rucksack full of books and read stories as well as discuss new books freely together with the children. The visits entail an increased interest and joy in reading among children and adults who are not able to prioritise reading themselves.

FunDza Literacy Trust, South Africa

Develops innovative reading materials to young, coloured South Africans with the purpose of promoting the joy of reading and creating better opportunities for the future of young people. Among other things, the project is responsible for online cell phone libraries, which has been a huge success in South Africa.

Mini-libraries – discovering and sharing the joy of reading, Canada

Mini libraries with 40-50 books that are lend to reading organisations across Canada. Hereby, the literature is accessible for even local groups, and together with the students, teachers can choose materials that fit the target group in the best way possible. Every group that chooses a mini library becomes a part of an eighth months course in which they learn to reflect and use the literature they have chosen.

Osu Children’s Library Fund, Ghana

Develops libraries targeting social vulnerable Ghanaian children. The fond is responsible for child-friendly libraries containing books that are addressed children in particular. The fond organises theatre experiences and trips for the children as well as handing out student grants.

VoorleesExpress (The Reading Express), the Netherlands

The project is targeted families with children from the age of two to eight years old who either are language-deficient or run a risk of developing a language deficiency. In a timeframe of 20 weeks, a volunteer reader from VoorleesExpress visits a family at home and introduce them to the reading aloud ritual – that includes both children and parents. Studies show that children who have participated in the programme becomes better readers and experience a bigger joy of reading.

Learn more about the Award