In October 2003 Nordbok approved its
plan of activities for the period 2004-
2005. Nordbok’s strategy is in line with
the committee’s aims and guidelines as
laid down by the Nordic Council of
Ministers, its main proposals for 2004
and the following period being as follows:
All inhabitants of the Nordic countries
shall be given the opportunity of becoming
acquainted with new and relevant
literature from their Nordic neighbours
by means of translations in their native
tongue.
The Nordic Council’s Prize for Literature
shall be used as a means to help
promote Nordic literature.
Nordbok shall contribute towards enhancing
awareness of Nordic literature,
shall throw light on the cultural and
ethnic variety of the Nordic countries
and shall encourage contact and cooperation
between peoples of different
ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
Nordbok shall promote and strengthen
the role of public libraries as active disseminators
of Nordic literature.
Nordbok shall stimulate reading
among children and young people,
working to increase their interest and
understanding of literature and encouraging
them in their own creative activities.
Co-operation in the literary field between
Nordic public libraries, organisations
and institutions shall be encouraged
with a view to making them better
equipped to meet new challenges.
Financial support for the translation of
Nordic literature and the provision of
grants towards projects and arrangements
relevant to the dissemination of
literature and library activities represent
Nordbok’s constant area of involvement.
Applications for grants to fund translation
work are dealt with twice a year,
the deadlines being 1. April and 1.
October. Applications for financial assistance
towards projects and other arrangements
are accepted once a year
with 1. April as the deadline date.
Nordbok has approved the following
wording of its announcement with regard
to the financial support available
in 2004.
The funding of projects constitutes
Nordbok’s primary means of achieving
its overall aims. Since these funds are
limited it is important, when publicising
details, to make quite clear from
the start the type of project most likely
to be given priority.
Nordbok’s activities cover two areas:
literature and the public library sector.
Both areas are huge in themselves and
it can be difficult to deal with them
adequately within one and the same
committee. This is particularly true of
the library sector. In order to avoid
spreading the work of the committee
too widely and also to achieve tangible
results with the limited means at one’s
disposal, the committee will place main
emphasis on tasks and initiatives connected
with the role of the public library
as a provider and disseminator of literature.
When inviting applications for project
support in 2004, Nordbok will give priority
to the following areas:
- Projects which focus on promoting
the literature of a Nordic neighbour.
- Projects which deal with the creative
process and/or interaction between
the various links in the literary cycle.
- Projects concerning literature for the
young and its dissemination or
which encourage literature-related
creative activity among children and
young people.
- Projects concerned with the preparation,
production and/or dissemi-
nation of literature for groups with
special requirements, such as the
physically-handicapped, linguistic
minorities, etc.
- Projects aimed at creating a Nordic
network to meet new challenges in
the dissemination of literature, art
and culture.
- Projects which promote a higher
level of expertise among librarians,
authors, translators and others who
pursue their profession in the world
of literature.
A general guideline for all those seeking
funding for a project should be that
they also look into the possibility of
obtaining financial support from some
national body or Nordic organisation.
Project support from Nordbok should,
where possible, be combined with funding
available from other sources.
Translated by Eric Deverill
