Kazakhstan marks first National Book Day to revive reading culture

New holiday promotes literacy, digital access, and a forward-looking national identity through literature

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan has officially launched its first National Book Day, celebrated on April 23, in a bid to promote reading, improve literacy, and reaffirm the role of literature in shaping the country’s future. 

The initiative aims to reconnect citizens with books in an age increasingly dominated by digital media.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a statement marking the occasion, said the holiday reflects a national commitment to learning, critical thinking, and curiosity—values he described as essential for building a modern Kazakh identity.

“This new holiday reflects our pursuit of knowledge, curiosity, and love for reading. Through books, young people gain the ability to think broadly and progressively,” Tokayev said.

The holiday was first proposed during the third National Kurultai, a national civic assembly initiated by President Tokayev to promote cultural and political dialogue. 

The move is part of a broader government strategy to strengthen reading habits and foster a more informed society.

In the past year alone, more than 1.7 million new books were added to public and school libraries, and 800 school libraries were modernized.

Kazakhstan currently operates 3,920 public libraries, which drew more than 55 million visitors in 2024, up from 52 million the previous year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.

While the government is making strides in expanding access to books, experts say the deeper challenge lies in cultivating a lasting culture of reading. 

Zhuldyz Omarbek, founder of the QazaqMura digital library, said the digital era has made rare manuscripts and archival materials widely available—but it has also created new obstacles.

“With so much content online, it’s easy to lose direction and hard to verify sources. That’s where libraries become critical,” she told The Astana Times.

Omarbek, who also launched Kitap Fest Almaty, a major literary festival, noted a dramatic rise in local publishing and public interest. 

“In 2014, we had just 13 publishing houses. Now we have 70. Book sales have multiplied, and interest in Kazakh-language literature is growing.”

Popular trends include business and self-help genres, children’s literature, poetry recitals, and live events where professionals recommend books. 

However, she voiced concern over young people relying on AI-generated summaries instead of reading full texts.

“They miss out on deep, thoughtful reading. That’s something we need to protect,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Omarbek remains optimistic. 

“We don’t have exact data on how much Kazakhstan reads, but I see the shift. A reading nation is a leading nation.”