The Slovenian Section of IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People

The Slovenian Section of IBBY was established in the Main Slovenian Children's Library, Pionirska Library in Ljubljana, in 1992, shortly after Slovenia gained its independence. In addition to Pionirska Library, the Section’s founding members included various societies and individuals working within the field of children’s literature and reading promotion. Many of the founding members were involved in the former National Section of Yugoslavia.

The Section has been regularly informing the public about IBBY’s activities and has been closely involved with reading promotion in Slovenia and abroad. It has become the focal point for all institutions and individuals concerned with children’s literature in Slovenia and has established international links with many reading institutions.

Many of the Section’s activities have been centred on the International Children’s Book Day, celebrated on April 2nd: an exhibition and symposium have traditionally been organized in collaboration with the City Library Ljubljana, Pionirska – Centre for Children’s and Youth Literature and Librarianship (the Pionirska), followed by an evening ceremony at the Slovene Writers' Association.

The Section has been regularly nominating Slovenian authors, illustrators, translators and promotors of children’s literature for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the IBBY Honour List. Until 2018, the Section collaborated with Pionirska in the selection of the winners of the Golden Pear Award for best translated fiction for children. Members of the Section have regularly actively assisted at the IBBY World and Regional Congresses and collaborated with Bookbird.

Ms. Tanja Pogačar, librarian at the Pionirska Library, was the initiator for the creation of the Slovenian Section of IBBY. Pogačar headed the organization from 1992 to 2004 and is now an honorary member.