Croatian Book Night 2025: Reading to be promoted in over 1,100 programmes
On 23 April 2025, at 12.00, the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) will host the opening of the 14th edition of the Croatian Book Night, Croatia’s annual national programme marking World Book and Copyright Day and Croatian Book Day (22 April).
On more than 260 locations all across Croatia as many as 330 institutions – 180 public libraries, numerous bookstores, antiquarian bookshops, museums, but also schools, kindergartens, hospitals, elderly care homes and prisons – will take part in this national celebration of books and reading.
With Bookctopus as the latest in a series of the Night’s mascots designed by Boris Kuk and Reading is a must – no matter what (where, when and how)! as its appeal this year, the Night will spotlight the vital role of books and reading in responding to global challenges, in which context the global devastation of wildlife resulting from human activity poses a serious threat to our future.
To animals, from humans, with bookish love
With programmes organised in parks, castles, pubs, on archaeological sites, the means of public transport, even on ships and trains, the Night’s programme this year will spotlight the indispensable place of animals in various works of Croatian literature, but also in the works of the canonical writers belonging to other national literatures.
The programme participants of all ages will thus explore the fascinating wildlife in the stories, poems, fairy tales and other works of Croatian and world literature by enjoying audio books and radio plays, discovering the animal world on guided city tours, making library tours with guide dogs, even sculpting some of the most popular animal characters in literature. Direct encounters with animals such as bees and the inhabitants of the Zagreb Zoo, will also be part of the 2025 Night’s rich programme.
Book-focused humanitarian initiatives – going furry and whiskered
Continuing to support the efforts aimed at providing the Ukrainian refugees in Croatia with publications in their own language by making available the titles of Ukrainian publishers in Croatian public libraries, this year’s Night’s humanitarian initiatives will additionally focus on aiding a number of animal welfare organisations.
Thus, all profit from the sale of the Night’s promotional T-shirts, bags and other merchandise will be donated to Zagreb-based Plavi križ, while several other animal welfare charities will receive book donations which they will be able to offer for sale at their online auctions and thus obtain resources to fund their work.
ZOOBookathon – NSK 2025 escape room event part of the Night’s programme
Apart from again hosting the Night’s opening, NSK is this year joining the Night’s programme with an escape room event spotlighting the animal world hiding in NSK’s collections. Ready to offer its participants a unique opportunity to explore the hidden world of animals by solving puzzles and learning about the Library and its holdings, ZOOBookathon will bring together more than 500 lovers of mysteries.
Officially ushering in this year’s Night, the programme of the opening will traditionally include the presentation of the results of the latest survey of Croatia’s book market, the announcement of the winners of this year’s competition for primary and secondary school pupils organised by the Croatian Association of School Librarians as well as the exhibition of Croatian Book Night-themed cartoons by Stipe Kalajžić and Dobrila Zvonarek.
The organisers of the Croatian Book Night programme are the Publishers and Booksellers Association of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, National and University Library in Zagreb, Zagreb City Libraries, books-and-literature-oriented e-zine and web portal Moderna vremena, Croatian Publishers Licensing Society (ZANA) and the Croatian Association of School Librarians.