Checkbook programme exceeds 52,000 vouchers (over 85% already used)

ANDbetween January and August this year, according to the data released by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, “52.448 were issued and 45.075 vouchers of 30 euros were used for the purchase of books”, in an action aimed at “a universe of 207,086 beneficiaries”, young residents in Portugal, born in 2007 and 2008.

According to these figures, the issue of book cheques corresponds to just over 25% of the beneficiaries' universe and the rate of use falls to almost 22% of the total.

For the ministry entrusted by Margarida Balseiro Lopes, “the 2nd edition of the Check-book ended on August 31 with the best results since the launch of the program”, in 2024.

“The program improved the main indicators compared to the 1st edition, which took place between November 2024 and July 2025,” reads the statement today. “In the second edition, which began on January 2, this year, 4,797 more vouchers (+10.1%) were issued and 5,805 (+14.8%) were used. The rate of use increased from 82.4% to 85.9%”, compared to the vouchers issued.

The first edition of the check-book program ended on July 15, 2025, with an execution rate of 20%. In an estimated 220,000 young beneficiaries in that year, around 47,000 checks were issued, and nearly 35,000 were used in eight months.

This year, the network that adheres to the check-book program has moved from 128 bookstores and 306 stores to 95 bookstores and 299 stores throughout the country.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, quoted by the statement, despite the decrease in the network, considers that “the growing adherence to the book check is a great sign of the interest of young people in reading”, and ensures that “encouraging this habit is investing in access to culture and the future of new generations”.

This second edition began last January, with an increase from 20 to 30 euros and the possibility of using the voucher to buy a book of lower value, which was not possible before.

With closing date set for June 30, this edition was extended another two months until August 31, a few days from the initial end, when 40,663 vouchers were issued.

At the time, at the end of June, the guardianship reported that the rate of use was around 72% of the cheques issued, being Lisbon, Maia, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto and Braga the municipalities with the highest adherence.

The check-book programme to support reading is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport developed by the Directorate-General for Book, Archives and Libraries (DGLAB), in conjunction with the Office for Cultural Strategy, Planning and Evaluation and the Cultural Foment Fund.

DGLAB shall submit to the Commission by 31 October the final report of this second edition.

According to the office of Margarida Balseiro Lopes, “the continuity of the program will be considered after the analysis of all the results found”.