Presentation of the “Costa Rica Lee” initiative as a public policy
The Government of Costa Rica, through the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) together with the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN), and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), introduced the new national reading strategy “Costa Rica Lee”, designed to place reading at the center of public life as an act of connection, identity, and community building. This initiative was announced in the framework of World Book and Copyright Day 2026 and seeks to coordinate inter-institutional efforts to promote reading across different spheres of Costa Rican society. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
Objectives and scope of “Costa Rica Lee”
The strategy aims to integrate reading as a daily practice and as a cultural right that strengthens educational processes, expands employment opportunities, fosters critical thinking skills, and contributes to the country’s social cohesion. To achieve this, libraries, educational centers, cultural spaces, and communities throughout the country will be activated, promoting activities that allow people to enjoy reading in creative and collective ways. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
A key component of the initiative is the “National Reading Pause”, a 15-minute moment in which individuals, public and private institutions, and citizens are invited to read simultaneously as a symbol of national unity and celebration of books. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
Activities across the country
The strategy includes a diverse program of activities that took place between April 20 and 26, including book presentations, discussions, workshops, literary-themed concerts, publication releases, tours of the Mobile Library (“Bibliobús”), and events in cultural spaces, libraries, and educational centers in several Costa Rican provinces. Among the main events:
• National civic ceremony held on April 23 at the Fidel Gamboa Amphitheater at the National Center of Culture (CENAC), with the participation of students, government authorities, diplomatic representatives, and members of the educational and cultural sectors.
• First National Reading Pause, carried out simultaneously throughout the country.
• Workshops, book presentations, and hybrid activities organized by public libraries and cultural spaces. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
Reading as a tool for social development
Authorities emphasize that reading is a cultural right and a powerful tool to strengthen national identity, encourage imagination, and build citizenship. This vision aligns with long-term efforts to promote access to books and reading for all ages, and with previous national strategies promoted by the Costa Rican State to integrate these values into public policies and educational practices. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
Importance of institutional coordination
The “Costa Rica Lee” strategy represents a joint effort among State institutions to promote reading as a cross-cutting axis of cultural, educational, and social development. Coordination between ministries and entities seeks to ensure that reading is promoted not only within formal education but also in everyday life and public spaces, thus fostering a broader and more inclusive reading culture. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
Official and reference sources
• “Costa Rica reads itself: Government promotes a national reading strategy as a country policy” — official document from the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
• “Costa Rica activates reading as a national meeting point on World Book Day” — official note from the Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Ministry of Public Education.
• “Launch of the ‘Costa Rica Lee’ strategy to promote reading nationwide” — journalistic coverage of the initiative.
• National strategy for the promotion of reading and books — background and context of Costa Rica’s public reading policies. (Ministry of Culture and Youth)
