In order to encourage Cypriot writers in their meritorious intellectual activity the Cultural Services have institutionalised a number of State Prizes for:
(a) Literature (since 1969) awarded biennially for poetry, novel, short-story and essay, and new writers under the age of 27.
(b) Children’s Literature, awarded biennially since 1976.
(c) Awards for Excellence, awarded annually since 1993 for outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the island.
(d) Young Cypriot Writer - book selected for printing.

The task of selecting the awards out of the works submitted is carried out by the Advisory Committee of Letters which is appointed and chaired by a Cultural Officer. The Cultural Services purchase about 200 books of Cyprological content or literary books by Cypriot writers in order to support their work, and by distributing them to overseas libraries and universities systematically promotes contemporary Cypriot literature. Recommendations for the purchase of literary publications are also made by an Advisory Committee. Within the framework of the same policy, the Cultural Services organise book fairs in Cyprus, participate in International Book Fairs abroad (Frankfurt, Bologna, Cairo etc), keep record of Cypriot publications etc. (Cypriot bibliography), have associated Cyprus with the international system of registering books and periodicals (ISBN, ISSN) and have established a centre of library cooperation through which Cyprus lends and borrows books on an international scale.

Publications
The publications programme of the Cultural Services is a substantial part within the framework of activities of the services aiming to promote, distribute and support the Cypriot book publications. The programme itself includes five series:
- General Series (anthologies, albums, symposia proceedings etc),
- Cypriot Folk Poetry Series,
- Greek Literature of Cyprus Series,
- Young Cypriot Writers Series and
- Memorial Lectures Series.

There is also an English periodical “Cyprus Today” which covers all cultural activity on the island. It is distributed to libraries and ministries in Cyprus but is mainly aimed at the Cyprus diaspora and has circulation of 15.000 copies.

Libraries
In pursuit of its aim of making good books accessible to the reading public, the Cultural Services are systematically concerned with libraries. Thus Municipal Libraries are offered subsidies to enable them to purchase books and new rural public libraries have been established in order to create focuses of culture in small communities (there are 95 of them so far).

Lectures
The Cultural Services organise scientific seminars, symposia, and lectures throughout Cyprus. Within the concept of decentralisation, lectures are also delivered in rural communities. Speakers deal with topics of wide interest ranging from literature, education, psychology, art, cinema, environment and architectural heritage. A welcome novelty has been the live music performed to support the music lectures and a mobile exhibition accompanying the art lectures.