Activities of the Literature and Libraries Division

The Literature and Libraries Division fulfils the tasks of the Ministry as the central governmental link for the area of literature, book culture, non-periodical press and librarianship.

The Division:

  • acts as a founder towards 3 governmental organisations (The National Library of the Czech Republic, The Moravian Library in Brno and The K.E. Macan Library and Printing Office for the Blind)
  • is involved in the creation of legal regulations in the area of librarianship and literature and the closely related and follow-up legislation
  • in cooperation with governmental authorities and bodies of local government, participates in the procurement of the optimum and functioning development of librarianship, gathers and updates data giving an account of the condition of public libraries (transformation of public libraries)
  • provides for the activities of the Central Librarian Council as the Minister’s advisory, coordination and initiative body for the fundamental issues of librarianship
  • provides contacts with the professional associations of librarians, writers and translators, publishers and distributors of books
  • prepares competitions and organises the State Literary Prize and the State Prize for Translation
  • participates in the preparation of “The Most Beautiful Czech Book of the Year” competition (a prize of the Minister of Culture) and linking it to the international competition entitled “The Most Beautiful Books in the World”
  • prepares and carries out national and specialised book exhibitions at international and domestic book fairs and cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the organisation of book exhibitions abroad
  • participates in activities associated with the Science and Research Programme for the area of literature and libraries
  • provides grants in the area of literature, the issuance of literary periodicals and other activities in the area of literature and book culture intended for all legal and natural persons and civic associations established to provide culture services
  • prepares and generally processes programmes and grants for the support of projects in the area of literature and libraries – the programmes “Public Information Services of Libraries” and “Support for the Provision of the Exercise of Regional Functions of Libraries”; grants “The 21st Century Library”, “Support for the Publication of Czech and Translated Literature”, “Support for the Publication of Original Illustrated Works for Children and Youth”, “Support for the Creation and Publication of a Literary Work” (a two-year grant), “Support for other Projects in the Area of Literature”, Support for Translations of Czech Literature Abroad”, “Czech Library – Support Programme for the Purchase of Czech Literature in Public Libraries”
  • prepares new programmes and grants
  • participates in the preparation of co-organised events in the area of literature, book culture and librarianship
  • cooperates with the scheduling subcommittee at the Kolín Commercial Printing Works
  • is responsible for the implementation of the State Information System programmes in the area of librarianship