VIDEO: Conclusion of the 'Children, Youth, and Parents Jury 2025'
The event for the 'Children, Youth, and Parents Jury 2025' will be livestreamed, showcasing the involvement of thousands of readers and the impact of diaspora support on Latvian literature.
The 'Children, Youth, and Parents Jury 2025' event, scheduled to be livestreamed from 12:00 to 15:00, highlights the active participation of over 23,300 readers from Latvian schools and libraries, as well as from 91 Latvian diaspora centers across 35 countries. This initiative exemplifies the successful implementation of the Diaspora Law, which enables the transportation of books worldwide, cultivating a significant Latvian reading community and reinforcing the cultural connection with Latvia.
The program saw enthusiastic engagement from thousands of librarians, teachers, and parents who encouraged the reading of contemporary literature and provided critical evaluation, underscoring the importance of innovative community involvement initiatives like 'Restart Reading' promoted by the National Library of Latvia. It also aligns with strategic initiatives such as 'Right to Read: The Riga Manifesto,' reflecting a national commitment to literacy and cultural enrichment.
In the 2025 collection, there were 29 books divided into six age groups (5+, 7+, 9+, 11+, 15+, and Parents' Jury), with an emphasis on original literature, highlighting 16 books by Latvian authors. This represents a concerted effort to promote local literary voices and foster a deep reading culture among the youth, underscoring the ongoing legacy of literature in connecting communities and enriching lives.