Following numerous initiatives to promote reading culture, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, has declared 5 March as National Reading Day. With this decision, Slovenia has become one of the few countries in the world to designate a national day specifically dedicated to reading.
In Memory of Dr Manca Košir
In preparing the decision, the Ministry of Culture considered proposals from various initiators, including the Reading Society of Slovenia, the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, the custodians of Dr Manca Košir’s legacy, and many others who have been actively engaged in the field of reading culture for many years.
The date was chosen to mark the birthday of Dr Manca Košir, an outstanding intellectual, publicist, author and ambassador for reading, who, through her life and work, brought together literary creation, the promotion of reading and the exploration of reading practices. Her legacy reflects the importance of reading as a personal need, a space for dialogue and a foundation for an inclusive society.
National Reading Day responds to concerning trends in the decline of reading habits among both children and adults. It seeks to strengthen reading literacy while fostering closer connections between culture, education and leisure. Reading opens the door to new worlds, entertains, offers insight into diverse perspectives and enhances critical thinking and language skills. It also supports mental well-being and deepens our understanding of both the world and ourselves. For these reasons, reading remains essential to both individual development and a democratic society.
Reading brings joy
National Reading Day is intended as a central moment to raise the awareness of the importance of reading. It serves as both a starting point and a connecting platform for year-round initiatives, highlighting reading as a fundamental cultural and civilisational value that transcends individual projects.
The first National Reading Day was marked this year under the slogan Reading is a Joy. Through this message, we aimed to highlight the importance of fostering a motivation to read, something that Dr Manca Košir embodied throughout her life. Reading requires effort, yet it is also a source of joy and pleasure that contributes to both personal growth and societal progress. We hope to discover new and inspiring pathways to reading, including those we may not yet have explored.
I have always maintained that literature changes the world. I believe that we are all connected and intertwined, that we are all one. If words begin to resonate within me, that resonance will also be felt by those around me; it will spread like a quiet fire, one we only recognise once it has burned through dry grass. After such a fire, the earth becomes fertile and ready for growth.
The Manifesto on Reading for the 21st Century
One of the central acts of this year’s National Reading Day is the creation of the Manifesto on Reading for the 21st Century, which places reading at the center of Slovenia’s social development. It defines reading as a fundamental capacity for understanding the world, others, and oneself. It emphasizes that without reading, there is no critical thinking, empathy, or ability to distinguish facts from falsehoods. In an age of information overload, this becomes a matter of democracy and social stability. The manifesto clearly links reading literacy with innovation, quality of life, and active citizenship. It highlights that the foundations of literacy are formed early, yet develop throughout life. Reading extends beyond schooling and becomes a shared responsibility of families, institutions, and the wider community. Where people read, conversations become more open, thoughtful, and respectful. The manifesto, therefore, frames reading as a key cultural and civic practice. Its message is clear: without a strong reading culture, there is no free and responsible society. You can find and sign the manifesto on National Reading Day’s website (in Slovenian).
We celebrated by reading
The central event of National Reading Day took place at the Judicial Tower in Maribor. Numerous promotional, informational, professional and scientific events were also held across Slovenia, with libraries, schools, publishers, reading clubs and other cultural and educational institutions taking part. These activities are presented on a dedicated website (in Slovenian).
Alenka Štrukelj (alenka.strukelj@acs.si), SIAE
Photo by Neca Falk, held by the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia.