The deadline to request and use the €30 book voucher for young residents in Portugal born in 2007 and 2008 ended on August 31. Those who did not issue the voucher or did not use it within the deadline lost the support in this edition. The program was available from January 2 for young people who met the defined conditions, in a total universe of 207,086 potential beneficiaries.
In the second edition, 52,448 vouchers were issued, of which 45,075 were used, representing a utilization rate of 85.9%. Compared to the first edition, aimed at young people born in 2005 and 2006, 4,797 more vouchers were issued (10.1% growth) and 5,805 more were used (14.8% increase). The first edition had a utilization rate of 82.4%, lower than the second.
Each voucher had a value of €30 and could be used in a single purchase of eligible books at a participating physical bookstore. School books, dictionaries, study aid books, or works not published in Portugal were not covered. 7,373 vouchers were left unused, approximately 14.1% of those issued. The network of participating establishments decreased from 128 bookstores (306 shops) to 95 bookstores (299 shops).
The continuation of the program has not yet been decided. The General Directorate for Books, Archives and Libraries must present the final report by October 31, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports states that continuation will be considered after analyzing all results. For now, no reopening of the deadline has been announced, nor is it confirmed that young people born in 2007 and 2008 will again be included in a possible new edition.
