The Slovenian Reading Badge Society is the NGO at the helm of the Reading Badge movement, both in terms of professional guidance and organisation. Through various programmes it encourages children and young people – as well as other groups of readers – to read in their free time. The mission of the Reading Badge, supported by schools, libraries and similar organizations, is to encourage reading literacy and lifelong reading culture. Some Reading Badge programmes even transcend the borders of Slovenia to reach Slovene communities abroad. Due to its significant role in Slovene culture, the Reading Badge is listed on the national Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
We will present some of the most successful projects we are implementing and explain why the Reading Badge has (for over 60 years!) been so successful in encouraging leisure reading.

Petra Potočnik is a professional associate of the Slovenian Reading Badge Society. She prepares various activities related to the development of reading culture and literacy for various target groups (reading mentors, teachers, librarians, young readers) and participates in a network of organizations dealing with reading culture at national level. She is the society’s representative in the international Federation of European Literacy Associations (FELA). She edits the society's website and looks after tenders and trainings.