On Thursday morning, 19 October 2011 as part of the ‘United Growing Books of the World’ project, a ceremony was held at the statue of the Girl with a Growing Book.

The symbol of the ‘Growing Book’ project, which has been running for the last eleven years under the leadership of the National Council, the upper chamber of parliament together with the Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU), the City of Ljubljana, the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities, the National and University Library (NUK) and the Growing Book Association, is a girl whose statue rises by two centimetres a year whenever a new verse is added to the plinth. This year, the verse is the Prešeren Award winning Miroslav Košuta’s "With a book I am browsing into the beauty and mystery of myself".

The project’s universal excellence has been recognised by many countries that have joined the Slovenian initiatives to build inter-cultural, scientific dialogue and peaceful coexistence in the world through books. They have recognised that Growing Books is an opportunity to deepen knowledge, cultural and scientific integration and to create a world of understanding and coexistence. This year, the project and the books of Finland, India, Ireland, Norway and Russia have been joined by books from Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France and Serbia. Visitors to Northern Park between Navje and Železna cesta can have a look at the books on touch screens.

The audience gathered at the ‘United Growing Books of the World’ project event in Northern Park, where the statue of the girl stands, were addressed this year by Mayor of Ljubljana Zoran Janković, the President of the National Council Blaž Kavčič MSc, academic Prof Dr Boštjan Žekš and the President of the Growing Book Association Cvetka Selšek .