On Books in Slovenia for World Book Day 2025 / O knjigah v Sloveniji ob mednarodnem dnevu knjige in avtorskih pravic
Each year, on April 23, we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1995. This day is dedicated to promoting reading, publishing, and the protection of copyright and intellectual property. The date was not chosen randomly – on April 23, 1616, two giants of world literature, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, passed away.
In Slovenia, this celebration extends over an entire week, with numerous events promoting reading culture and book accessibility. Among these is the initiative "Give a Book and a Word," which encourages people to gift someone a book on April 23, thereby strengthening the idea of the book as a lifelong gift.
In Ljubljana, the main event for World Book Day 2025 will be the jubilee 10th "Sejem na zraku" (Outdoor Book Fair), taking place on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Zvezda Park.
This all-day open-air book fair is a wonderful opportunity for socializing and discovering publishers and all those dedicated to the promotion of Slovenian literature. More than 70 publishers will present their latest book releases, and visitors will enjoy special fair discounts, book presentations, and meetings with authors. The fair will simultaneously mark World Book and Copyright Day as well as the Slovenian "Noč knjige" (Night of Books).
In Maribor, the 28th Slovenski dnevi knjige v Mariboru (Slovenian Book Days in Maribor) festival will be held from May 23 to May 30, 2025, organized by the Mladinski kulturni center (MKC) Maribor.
The festival will offer a rich program of literary events, book presentations, exhibitions, and discussions with authors and translators. As part of the festival, the Vasja Cerar Award for the best translation of youth literature into Slovenian will also be awarded, organized jointly by MKC Maribor and the Slovenian Literary Translators Association.
This year’s nominees are Stana Anželj, Tina Mahkota, and Katja Zakrajšek. Events will take place at various venues across Maribor, including the Grajski trg (Castle Square), where a book fair will be held, and the atrium of Vetrinjski dvor, which will host evening literary events. The festival aims to promote reading, literature, and community-building through the written word.
The Importance of Reading and Book Accessibility for Mobility Students in Slovenia
World Book Day is not only an opportunity to celebrate literature but also a moment to reflect on the importance of making books accessible to all members of society, particularly students who are temporarily living and studying in Slovenia through mobility programs like Erasmus+ and ESC participants.
In Slovenia, there have been ongoing initiatives to reduce VAT on books from 20% to 8%, which would make books more affordable and accessible to a broader public. Such an endeavor is not only significant from an economic perspective but also represents a deep cultural value for the Slovenian nation: books are not considered a luxury but a fundamental tool for education, the development of critical thinking, and the preservation and promotion of Slovenian identity and language use.
For mobility students, reading books in Slovenian or about Slovenia is a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the culture, history, and society of the country where they are temporarily residing. Participation in projects like "Give a Book," where people gift each other books, can also be a delightful way to meet new friends, improve language skills, and integrate into the local community.
Practical #Tips for Mobility Students
#Reading books in Slovenia in 2025, especially in the digital era, is crucial for mobility students because it enables a better understanding of the language; #books offer context, vocabulary, and style often missed in daily conversations.
Additionally, getting to know Slovenian authors, stories, and history allows for deeper cultural integration, fosters critical thinking, independence, and empathy — all key attributes for a successful study abroad experience.
First tip: Read, read, read — and travel through books!
Secondly: On OLS, we recommend visiting local #library. Membership for students is often free, and spending considerable time in the library is a strong tradition among Slovenian students.
If Slovenian is your second/foreign language, it’s easiest — regardless of age and language proficiency — to start with short stories and youth literature, which is rich and ideal, especially for beginners (A level).
Another excellent suggestion is the method of dual reading: find and read a book in both Slovenian and English (or your native language) at the same time to assist with understanding.
For the Slovenian people, a book is not just a medium but a bridge between generations, regions, and languages. Hence, the belief prevails in Slovenia that "a nation that reads, stays alive."
Students who immerse themselves in the Slovenian environment in 2025 can, through books, become an important part of this living story.
You can read the Message of the President of the Slovenian Writers’ Association, Marij Čuk, here: https://mkc.si/aktualno/2025/4/23/poslanica-marija-cuka
May books continue to inspire, teach, and connect us!
What is your favorite book? What is your favorite book in Slovenian?
#Share with us in the comments!
Have fun and practise Slovenian with OLS!
Alenka, Community Manager – Slovenian
Each year, on April 23, we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1995. This day is dedicated to promoting reading, publishing, and the protection of copyright and intellectual property. The date was not chosen randomly – on April 23, 1616, two giants of world literature, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, passed away.
In Slovenia, this celebration extends over an entire week, with numerous events promoting reading culture and book accessibility. Among these is the initiative "Give a Book and a Word," which encourages people to gift someone a book on April 23, thereby strengthening the idea of the book as a lifelong gift.
In Ljubljana, the main event for World Book Day 2025 will be the jubilee 10th "Sejem na zraku" (Outdoor Book Fair), taking place on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Zvezda Park.
This all-day open-air book fair is a wonderful opportunity for socializing and discovering publishers and all those dedicated to the promotion of Slovenian literature. More than 70 publishers will present their latest book releases, and visitors will enjoy special fair discounts, book presentations, and meetings with authors. The fair will simultaneously mark World Book and Copyright Day as well as the Slovenian "Noč knjige" (Night of Books).
In Maribor, the 28th Slovenski dnevi knjige v Mariboru (Slovenian Book Days in Maribor) festival will be held from May 23 to May 30, 2025, organized by the Mladinski kulturni center (MKC) Maribor.
The festival will offer a rich program of literary events, book presentations, exhibitions, and discussions with authors and translators. As part of the festival, the Vasja Cerar Award for the best translation of youth literature into Slovenian will also be awarded, organized jointly by MKC Maribor and the Slovenian Literary Translators Association.
This year’s nominees are Stana Anželj, Tina Mahkota, and Katja Zakrajšek. Events will take place at various venues across Maribor, including the Grajski trg (Castle Square), where a book fair will be held, and the atrium of Vetrinjski dvor, which will host evening literary events. The festival aims to promote reading, literature, and community-building through the written word.
The Importance of Reading and Book Accessibility for Mobility Students in Slovenia
World Book Day is not only an opportunity to celebrate literature but also a moment to reflect on the importance of making books accessible to all members of society, particularly students who are temporarily living and studying in Slovenia through mobility programs like Erasmus+ and ESC participants.
In Slovenia, there have been ongoing initiatives to reduce VAT on books from 20% to 8%, which would make books more affordable and accessible to a broader public. Such an endeavor is not only significant from an economic perspective but also represents a deep cultural value for the Slovenian nation: books are not considered a luxury but a fundamental tool for education, the development of critical thinking, and the preservation and promotion of Slovenian identity and language use.
For mobility students, reading books in Slovenian or about Slovenia is a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the culture, history, and society of the country where they are temporarily residing. Participation in projects like "Give a Book," where people gift each other books, can also be a delightful way to meet new friends, improve language skills, and integrate into the local community.
Practical #Tips for Mobility Students
#Reading books in Slovenia in 2025, especially in the digital era, is crucial for mobility students because it enables a better understanding of the language; #books offer context, vocabulary, and style often missed in daily conversations.
Additionally, getting to know Slovenian authors, stories, and history allows for deeper cultural integration, fosters critical thinking, independence, and empathy — all key attributes for a successful study abroad experience.
First tip: Read, read, read — and travel through books!
Secondly: On OLS, we recommend visiting local #library. Membership for students is often free, and spending considerable time in the library is a strong tradition among Slovenian students.
If Slovenian is your second/foreign language, it’s easiest — regardless of age and language proficiency — to start with short stories and youth literature, which is rich and ideal, especially for beginners (A level).
Another excellent suggestion is the method of dual reading: find and read a book in both Slovenian and English (or your native language) at the same time to assist with understanding.
For the Slovenian people, a book is not just a medium but a bridge between generations, regions, and languages. Hence, the belief prevails in Slovenia that "a nation that reads, stays alive."
Students who immerse themselves in the Slovenian environment in 2025 can, through books, become an important part of this living story.
You can read the Message of the President of the Slovenian Writers’ Association, Marij Čuk, here: https://mkc.si/aktualno/2025/4/23/poslanica-marija-cuka
May books continue to inspire, teach, and connect us!
What is your favorite book? What is your favorite book in Slovenian?
#Share with us in the comments!
Have fun and practise Slovenian with OLS!
Alenka, Community Manager – Slovenian