To kick off the day of action, Mayor Nino Haase and Head of Cultural Affairs Marianne Grosse will read to two classes from the Peter Härtling School (Finthen) at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Anna Seghers Public Library. "When a book is read aloud, something magical happens. Brought to life by the voice, the text is transformed in a wondrous way, and words and sentences become living stories, people, and places. It is precisely this magic that is conveyed by the National Reading Day, which is, of course, an absolute must in Mainz, the city of Gutenberg and the headquarters of the Reading Foundation," says Mayor Nino Haase. In addition to the public events, almost all daycare centers, kindergartens, and school classes took part in the reading day again: In daycare centers or schools, but also in the Landemuseum Mainz, the Fastnachtsmuseum, the LEIZA, the cathedral, and other unusual reading locations, they will be able to listen to the words of the readers, some of whom are celebrities.

Exciting stories were read aloud throughout Mainz from November 16 to 19, 2023, as part of National Reading Day for daycare centers, kindergarten groups, and school classes. Readings took place in bookstores, the Carnival Museum, the LEIZA, the State Museum, even the Lindenmühle Nature Show Garden, as well as at various locations in the cathedral.

Mayor Nino Haase and Head of Cultural Affairs Marianne Grosse ("I read a book every evening; for me, it's an essential way to end the day") took turns reading Eoin Colfer's "Tim and the Secret of Knolle Murphy" to the fourth-grade classes at Feldberg School—a fitting location for the reading, the public library, but of course without the "strict librarian" who appears in the book and reigns there mercilessly as the terror of all children.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how important it is to stick together and be there for one another in order to get through difficult and challenging times. Around National Reading Day (November 19, 2021), "Mainz liest bunt" (Mainz reads colorfully) invited people to pause and listen to a variety of stories about "friendship and solidarity" in an autumnal atmosphere.

Exciting stories could be heard throughout Mainz, in schools and daycare centers, in the Carnival Museum, in the State Theater, in the Social City district office in Neustadt, and in the Große Bleiche town hall. Mayor Michael Ebling, together with the MundArtisten, Claudia Presser, Matthias Keil, and Jens Teschner, read stories about Mainz families and local characters – in the Mainz dialect and with songs in the Mainz dialect.

Always on the go – who isn't? Around National Reading Day (November 15, 2019), "Mainz liest bunt" (Mainz reads colorfully) invited people to pause and listen to a variety of stories about "being on the go" in autumnal comfort: whether supposedly fleeting encounters or long journeys, whether couch surfing in Iran or a trip to the moon. Always entertaining and exciting, in reading sessions throughout the city and, as in previous years, open to everyone, public and free of charge!

In the Gutenberg Year, marking the 550th anniversary of his death, "Mainz liest bunt" (Mainz reads colorfully) is focusing on Johannes Gutenberg around the National Reading Day (November 16, 2018): Who was he? Did he have other dreams or even a secret? What can we still learn from him today? Young and old alike can find out – in an entertaining and exciting way, during reading sessions throughout the city and, as always, open to everyone, public and free of charge!

"The Story of Bees," "The Magic Tree House: In the Footsteps of Polar Bears," or "Deadly Water: Chief Inspector Chen's Sixth Case": Many books tell exciting stories about the blue planet!

Around National Reading Day (November 17, 2017), "Mainz Reads Colorfully" put our planet in the spotlight—and invited people to read aloud.

Whether in the children's store or in the Kulturei, on the tram or in the stadium, in the forest or in the World Museum of Printing Art: stories were heard everywhere for almost a week. Throughout the city, for everyone, publicly, free of charge!

In 2016, the nationwide reading day (November 18) was once again celebrated with "Mainz liest bunt" (Mainz reads colorfully)! Under the motto "Stories about home," many places were transformed into reading corners. Young and old alike were invited to listen to the words of the readers.

The wide variety of events and extensive literature list demonstrated just how diverse stories about home can be: from literature about new homes, humorous texts about the typical characteristics of a particular region, and a multitude of books that tell of losing one's home and fleeing.

In addition to the many public and private reading sessions throughout the city and all its districts, the "Heimat ist ..." project invited anyone interested to take part: colorful postcards and beer coasters with space for people to write down their own thoughts on the definition of home were available in many participating shops and cafés. During the reading weekend in November, the completed cards and beer mats were displayed in shop windows, the State Theater, the Dominformation, the town hall, and other locations.

In 2015, many places once again became "reading corners" around National Reading Day (November 20): from the art gallery to the tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral, from the synagogue to the ethnic articulated bus.

In keeping with the motto "Mainz reads colorfully – fairy tales and stories from around the world," numerous readers, including celebrities, politicians, and educators, recited texts from distant and neighboring countries.

From the Forster reading marathon at the Kunsthalle, the fairy-tale reading afternoon at the children's store, to interplay and whispering waves at the Museum of Ancient Seafaring, to Tschick at the retail store, dialect readings at a wine bar, and a literary dive at the furniture store: Reading Day 2015 in Mainz was colorful and entertaining!

Schoolchildren, students, writers, politicians, and celebrities all read aloud during the 2014 National Reading Day in the state capital. And they did so everywhere: on the tram, in the castle, and in the middle of the market square. In restaurants, furniture stores, and trendy cafés.

With success! The state capital Mainz prevailed in the competition to become the reading capital. From now on, it can call itself the "Most Publicized Reading Capital 2014." A wonderful incentive to continue reading! The state capital took part in the competition again in 2015.

National Reading Aloud Day is a joint initiative of DIE ZEIT, Stiftung Lesen, and Deutsche Bahn Stiftung. This day of action for reading aloud has been held every year on the third Friday in November since 2004. National Reading Aloud Day raises public awareness of the importance of reading aloud. In 2013, the initiators launched the Reading Aloud Capital competition for the first time. The state capital of Mainz won this competition in 2014 and can now call itself the "Most Publicly Effective Reading Aloud Capital."

Reading Day in Mainz is a large community project led by the state capital of Mainz with its libraries and the library at the cathedral.

In 2013, the initiators held the first Vorlesehauptstadt competition as part of the action day. The jury is made up of employees from the three initiators and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities.

The state capital Mainz won the race in 2014 and can now call itself the "most public-friendly reading capital." The official title was awarded and the plaque presented at the beginning of February 2015. The award is on display in the Anna Seghers Public Library.

In its unanimous decision, the jury stated that Gutenberg's city had organized "more than 130 reading events, some of which were quite unusual," and presented them in a 40-page brochure printed especially for National Reading Day.

Mainz also succeeded in "bringing reading aloud to the wider city and public, for example through a reading flash mob in the city center or public readings in cinemas and theaters. By skillfully involving local media and numerous prominent figures, the city also sent a strong public signal in favor of reading aloud."

The title of "Most Active Reading Capital" went to Rain (Bavaria), while Wiesbaden emerged as the winner in the category "Most Extraordinary Reading Capital." Mayor Michael Ebling: "Two reading strongholds on the Rhine: Mainz and Wiesbaden as award winners – I find that very gratifying overall."

In Mainz, National Reading Day is organized by the city administration in cooperation with the library at the cathedral.