“Ausgefuchst – Smart Kids and Cool Books” is a free reading promotion project run by the Osnabrück Public Library that supports elementary school classes in their reading development over the course of a year. Second-grade classes in Osnabrück are eligible to participate. The program begins after summer break each year.

Goals of “Ausgefuchst”

The project aims to expand the children’s vocabulary, improve their reading skills, support reading for comprehension, spark a love of reading, and foster imagination and creativity. At the same time, the children become familiar with the services offered by the City Library, particularly the bookmobile, which makes regular stops in all city districts. Here, the children can choose books that appeal to them and borrow them for free.

How does it work?

A small team of trained volunteers visits the classroom once a week over the course of a year to inspire children to read. They present picture book screenings, use Kamishibai table theater, read aloud, skillfully bring books to life with the children, and collect unfamiliar words in “word jars”… In short, every week they provide fresh inspiration for reading and invite children into the boundless and surprising world of books, which has something to offer for every taste.

Development of the Project

Developed in 2018 in collaboration with the Bohnenkamp Foundation, the Osnabrück City Library, and the Heiligenweg School in Osnabrück, the project has undergone several changes. Since the 2021–2022 school year, it has been run by volunteers. Since then, the project has grown year after year. In 2026, five schools and twelve classes—with a total of 240 children—are participating in weekly “Ausgefuchst” sessions. The children benefit from the creative ideas and diverse backgrounds of the volunteers, each of whom develops their own unique style without losing sight of the goal: to promote reading in a playful way that simply makes children want to read stories.