Society and Reading: Russian Regions presented their best projects at the All-Russian Contest "The Most Reading Region"

The All-Russian Contest "The Most Reading Region" will take place this year for the sixth time. Its participants are the constituent entities of the Russian Federation - republics, territories, regions, autonomous districts and cities of federal significance.

To take part in the contest, the regions had to present to the jury the most significant events of 2019-2020, devoted to literature, books and reading. Besides, the judges took into consideration the most important initiatives, the achievements of authorities and cultural institutions in the development of the books and reading infrastructure, supporting the literary traditions of the regions, and statistical data on the reading infrastructure when choosing a winner. In the year of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, literary events and projects marking the Victory anniversary are of particular attention. The organizers give special priority to programs supporting juvenile literature.

The jury is headed by the President of the Russian Book Union Sergei Stepashin. It includes representatives of the book and library communities, public organizations, journalists, literary critics and writers. It should choose the best ones out of 82 participants, and then determine the most reading region that will win the title of "Literary Flagship of Russia". The contest results will be announced in November. An awards ceremony will take place within the framework of the IX Saint-Petersburg International Cultural Forum.