Land of Readers
Our mission
Krajina čitateľov (Land of Readers) is dedicated to promoting reading for pleasure and emphasizing the importance of access to books. We support adults who work with children—particularly teachers, educators, and parents—in helping young readers build a meaningful relationship with books.
Our work includes:
- Designing inspiring examples of good practice.
- Encouraging adults to actively connect children with books.
- Sharing the latest scientific research on reading.
Access to a diverse selection of books is crucial in developing reading skills. According to PIRLS and PISA assessments, 40% of children in Slovakia have no more than 25 books at home, including both children’s and adult titles. Limited access to books is reflected in their reading confidence: as many as 57% of Slovak children do not consider themselves experienced readers.
Half of all schools in Slovakia lack a school library, and two-thirds of the remaining ones don’t allow children to borrow books to take home. Most public libraries, on the other hand, struggle with outdated collections and the lack of funds to purchase new titles. As a result, libraries are unable to fully meet the evolving needs of young readers—especially in poorer regions where access to books at home is already limited.
If we combine access to books at home and in libraries, it becomes clear that many children encounter books only during reading or literature classes—where reading is typically graded. In such an environment, there is little room for choosing books freely or reading simply for pleasure.
This is why we do what we do:
What we do
The Summer Read-Through
During the two-month summer holidays, this campaign runs with the goal of preventing the „summer learning loss“ phenomenon. The project offers curated reading recommendations for toddlers, early readers, and teenagers. In collaboration with libraries and schools, it brings together inspiring stories and engaging activities for the family.
This Classroom is Full of Readers
This Classroom is Full of Readers (Naša trieda číta) is a project that supports the creation of well-curated classroom libraries—small, accessible book collections tailored to the reading levels and interests of students. Their goal is to foster love of reading by giving children the freedom to explore books on their own terms.
Five years after launching the project, there are over 1,200 classroom libraries established across most regions of Slovakia.
Summer Reading Institute
The Summer Reading Institute invites teachers to a unique multi-day event focusing on helping educators to inspire and strengthen the love of reading and create engaging reading environments in their classrooms. Through workshops, lectures, and hands-on activities, participants gain practical tips on how to enrich reading lessons, motivate reluctant readers, and stay encouraged when progress is slow.
Would you like a closer look at our work?
Here is an Annual Report for 2024.
Contact us:
nasa@krajinacitatelov.sk
Address:
OZ Krajina čitateľov
Obchodná 517/26, 811 06 Bratislava-Staré mesto