Croatian Book Month 2025 kicks off in Sisak – with librarians in the spotlight
The 30th edition of the Croatian Book Month organised by the Zagreb City Libraries public library network and under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media, opened at the Vlado Gotovac Public Library in Sisak.
Traditionally taking place from 15 October to 15 November as Croatia’s annual national programme promoting books and reading, the 2025 Month spotlights the essential role of librarians in the contemporary society.
After welcome addresses by the President of the Month’s Programme and Organising Committee Dr Sunčica Ostoić and Acting Director of the Sisak library Vesna Ivanković, the 2025 Month’s Ambassador Maja Lesinger, Mayor of the City of Sisak Domagoj Orlić and Prefect of the Sisak-Moslavina County Ivan Celjak briefly addressed the present visitors. Among the speakers at the opening was also the Croatian Minister of Culture and Media Dr Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who emphasised the increasing number of the Month’s programmes and participants throughout the year.
The opening celebration included a performance bringing to life Croatian folklore and cultural heritage by the Lađarice vocal ensemble.
Programme as rich as usual – promoting books and their most notable guardians
Keeping in line with its theme, the Month’s rich programme will mark two great libraries-focused anniversaries – the 120th anniversary of the birth of Eva Verona, “the Croatian library diva meriting international recognition”, and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Library Association.
In addition to the celebration of the Croatian Libraries Day, marked every year on 11 November to mark the anniversary of the passing of the first, 1960 Croatian Library Act and for the purpose of increasing the visibility of all types of libraries and their work, the Month’s central events will again be its reading marathon and the national online quiz aimed at the promotion of reading among children and young adults.
NSK events during the most bookish month of the year
The National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) is traditionally among the Month’s many participants, this year including almost 300 institutions, which have organised over 2,000 programmes. Apart from traditionally hosting the awards ceremony of the Month’s national online quiz (Superlibrarians, 14 November 2025, 12.00), it is this year joining this national celebration with the following activities:
8 – 15 November 2025
Just return that overdue book and you will completely be let off the hook!
Waving late return charges initiative
24 October 2025, 13.00, grand lobby
Marginalia, in the focus
NSK exhibition spotlighting the secrets of inscriptions on the margins of items in the Library’s collections
Duration: 24 October – 7 November
29 October 2025, 12.00, CroAtrium, conference hall Judita
Art between the covers: Book as a work of art
Lecture-exhibition-workshop by Professor Tanja Dabo (Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts) on artists’ books
The Month is long, it’s book-picking time!
