Once again, Systematic presents a global award to initiatives that promote reading
Reading projects and initiatives from all over the world have the opportunity for a financial boost when the Systematic Joy of Reading Award is presented in June 2019.
Press release20 November 2018
“The Systematic Joy of Reading Award has had enormous importance for our project, and we would recommend any organisation that prioritises reading to apply and help strengthen the international focus on reading!”
These were the words of Mignon Hardie, head of the FunDza Literacy Trust in South Africa, and winner of the Systematic Joy of Reading Award 2017.
The FunDza Litracy Trust is responsible for an online reading portal that provides access to books, daily blogs and interviews with young South Africans. Winning the Systematic Joy of Reading Award resulted in 10,000 US dollars in prize money, which has been of major importance to the project, according to Mignon Hardie. Among other things, the money was spent on an online campaign, which resulted in the Fundza project getting even more followers. The award also generated media coverage and paved the way for more financial support for the project.
The Systematic Joy of Reading Award has had enormous importance for our project, and we would recommend any organisation that prioritises reading to apply and help strengthen the international focus on reading!
In June 2019, ground-breaking new projects will again be candidates for the prestigious Systematic Joy of Reading award and the prize money that accompanies it. The announcement will be made at the Next Library Festival at the Dokk1 main library in Aarhus, Denmark.
“The Systematic Joy of Reading Award gives us a unique opportunity to highlight projects from all over the world, where special efforts are made to promote reading – often in contexts where either social or economic challenges hinder the spread of reading. The ability to read is vital for the individual and for society – and it is great to be able to support a project that makes a difference in this field,” explains Systematic Senior Vice President Martin Brøchner-Mortensen, who is responsible for the operation and further development of Cicero – the library administration solution selected for all Denmark’s public and school libraries.
The head of the libraries in the Municipality of Aarhus, Marie Østergård, is also looking forward to once again providing the backdrop for the award of the prize:
“We look forward to seeing exciting, effective and innovative projects, while giving the winner organisation the opportunity to share their project with the many participants at next year's Next Library event, which takes place at Dokk1,” says Marie Østergård.
Evaluation criteria
• Joy of reading has to be an important part of the initiative
• The effect of the initiative must be documented by number of people reached, level of reading and other documentation in the form of either case stories or research
• The initiative must make use of innovative methods and/or approaches
• The initiative must have been in operation for at least two years
Applications can be submitted from 15 December 2018. The deadline for submitting applications is 15 March 2019.
Jury
• Marian Morgan-Bindon, Freelance Public Library Executive, Former Chair IFLA Public Libraries Section Standing Committee, member of the IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section Standing Committee and Chair of the Jury for the Systematic - Joy of Reading Award
• Bill Macnaught, National Librarian, National Library of New Zealand
• Henriette Romme Lund, Consultant at The National Centre for Reading, University Colleges Denmark
• Kirsten Boelt, Head of Aalborg Public Libraries, Denmark, Member Governing Board IFLA
• Magdeline Mooketsi, Principal Library Officer, Gaborone Public Library, Botswana
• Martin Brøchner-Mortensen, Senior Vice President i Systematic, Denmark.
