Aija Bremšmite

Library Information Specialist, Ogre Central Library

Aija Bremšmite is the Library Information Specialist at the Ogre Central Library, responsible for the library’s public image on social media, as well as for organising events, exhibitions, and activities that bring together everyone for whom books hold value. Aija once worked as a teacher who actively sought ways to inspire children to read. The student reading-promotion programme, “Reading Spark”, created in collaboration with her colleagues, brings to the library even those children who have previously felt unsure or lost in the world of books.

United for Reading Joy: Libraries and Schools Hand in Hand

International studies show a sharp decline in reading literacy among Latvian schoolchildren. There are several key reasons for this, including the COVID years, which shut down both schools and libraries. The path back toward a more reading-oriented society is winding and complex, but more and more organizations, institutions, and private initiatives in Latvia are thinking and working toward encouraging reading enjoyment and literacy among children, students, and adults alike. Libraries play a crucial role in this process. At Ogre Central Library, a reading promotion program “Courage to Read” was implemented last academic year, involving 50 educational institutions from the Ogre region. In this school year, 75 classes have already joined the program, which consists of two main parts: silent reading minutes in schools and classrooms, and library activities in libraries. The conviction of the Ogre Central Library is that results can only be achieved through cooperation. By working hand in hand with educational institutions (kindergartens and schools), it is possible to achieve results – children who feel increasingly confident in the library and much stronger outcomes in fostering a love of reading.

Date and time: 2025-12-03, 13:00-13:20 (20 min)

Hall: ALFA