On May 7, as Lithuania marked the Day of the Restoration of Press, Language, and Books, the winners of the “Book of the Year 2024” campaign were officially announced.

The aim of the “Book of the Year” campaign is to encourage Lithuanian authors to create high-quality, contemporary literature for readers of all ages, to foster a culture of reading across different age groups and social backgrounds, and to ensure access to literature of artistic and cultural value.

The public’s favorite books in each category are as follows:

• Prose: „Diseris“ by Darius Žiūra (published by „Kitos knygos“ in collaboration with the Vilnius Academy of Arts Publishing House);
• Poetry: „Mėlynieji malonumai“ by Austėja Jakas (išleido „Baziliskas“);
• Non-fiction: „Kai rašai, nebijai. Autobiografiniai tekstai“ by Viktorija Daujotytė (published by the Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House);
• Children’s Literature: „Kamandosė“ by Eglė Jasė, illustrated by Julija Račiūnaitė (published by the „Švieskime vaikus“ Charity and Support Foundation);
• Young Adult Literature: „Šiurpnakčio istorijos“ by Aušrinė Tilindė, illustrated by Roberta Railaitė (published by „Alma littera“).

This year, 23 books published in 2024 were nominated across five categories, each selected by expert committees. Readers had the opportunity to vote for their favorites over a two-month period, beginning with the announcement of the nominees at the Vilnius Book Fair.

For the first time, the campaign’s committee members compiled longlists from which they later selected the top five nominated titles in each category. These books were presented to the public as outstanding examples of Lithuanian literature from the past year.

This year, the Book of the Year jury members drew up longlists from which they then selected the top five nominations. These books were presented to the public by the experts as the most valuable Lithuanian literature of the past year. VILNIUS TECH Library offers a selection of the recommended longlist:

You can borrow books through the VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library. Once you receive a notification about the prepared order, come to collect the publications at the designated location: the Central Library (1st floor hall) or the reading room in your faculty.