Global Network For Early Years > Book Start (Grāmatu starts) > Book Start (Grāmatu starts)

Book Start (Grāmatu starts)

Riga, Latvia

Programme name

Country

Latvia

Date of information

September 25th 2025

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Organization name

The National Library of Latvia is the creator of the Book Start program. The implementer of the program is the National Library of Latvia Support Foundation.

Organization address

Mūkusalas iela 3, Riga, LV-1048, LATVIA

Goal/objective

To facilitate continual education and growth of the Latvian society, strengthening independence and democracy in Latvia.

Organization contact

Silvija Tretjakova and Karina Pētersone

Position of contact person

Head of the Children Literature Centre and Director of the National Library of Latvia Support Foundation

Organization website

https://lnb.gov.lv/ - www.gaisma.lv

Organization type

National Reading Promotion Organization, Public-Benefit Non-Governmental Organisation

How many staff does your organization employ?

354 in National Library of Latvia (7 in Children Literature Centre), 4 in National Library of Latvia Support Foundation

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Basic details

Programme name

Book Start (Grāmatu starts)

Country/Province/City where the programme takes place

Latvia

Year started

2014

Programme goal/objective

"Book Start" is a reading promotion program for 3-4 year old children, which addresses and involves families in reading, introduces libraries, cares about the joy of reading in preschool children, and offers educational, creative, and developmental classes in libraries.

Funding sources

State funding, municipal funding and donations.

Geographic coverage

National and Latvian diaspora abroad

Purpose of the programme

Not for profit?

Non profit

Religious or political purpose?

Local consistency of model

Is your programme model consistent across your geographic area, or are there regional differences?

Consistent

Book Packs

What are the contents of your gifting pack?

"Book Start" set: backpack, toy, educational brochure for parents, picture book - Inese Zandere and Rūta Briede "Does a book have a beak?".

Is your programme offered free of charge to all families?

Yes

Partnerships and Delivery

What are your primary `points of contact` with the population you serve? (i.e your local programme partners.)

Library

Who gifts/hands-out your pack to families?

Early literacy specialists and librarians

Does your programme uses volunteers?

Audience

Is the programme universal or targeted?

Reading promotion program is for 3-4 year old children and their families.

How many children does your programme serve a year?

1000

At what age/gifting period do children receive your programme?

3-4 years

Diversity provision

Does your program include provisions or resources for children with special needs?

What language populations does your programme serve?

Latvian. Following Russia’s war in Ukraine, many Ukrainian families settled in Latvia. They were invited to join the program, with children’s books in Ukrainian added to the Book Start set.

Evaluation and research

Have you conducted programme evaluation or research (including longitudinal)? If yes, has this evaluation/research been published?

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