Point of view
Successful Cooperation of Two Libraries Within the Framework of UNESCO - UNAL
This article , written by two members of the UNAL Network, is intended to encourage UNAL libraries to institute joint cooperative arrangements, and at the same time possibly to convince other libraries to become part of the family of UNAL libraries.
The Mestska kniznica (Municipal Library) of Hlohovec, Slovakia is a public library, which provides library services to the inhabitants of Hlohovec and surrounding areas. Annually, the library welcomes about 5,000 registered users and 45,000 visitors. Its loaned material is estimated at130,000 from is collection of 88,000 items of books and other materials. The Library joined UNAL in August 1993.
The Solska Knjiznica of the Ob Dravinji Primary School from the town of Slovenske Konjice in Slovenia serves mostly the pupils and teachers of the primary school, but it is also open to the public. Its users are drawn from some 600 pupils, 50 teachers and approx.. 50 users from outside the school. Its collection contain around 11,000 book and non-book items and material. It makes around 24000 loans and occasional interlibrary loans. The library is an associate member of shared Slovenian computer catalogue - COBISS. It organizes various activities in the library mostly for children and twice a year these are extended to the wider adult public. The library joined UNAL in September 1993. Cooperation began in same year as we entered UNAL.
Helena: We received a cordial letter from Primoz Krivec our colleague and librarian from Slovenske Konjice, in which he described his library, the town and Slovenia. He proposed establishing links between our libraries to us and we accepted his offer with a pleasure.
Primoz: Our letters were full of information about our countries, regions and, of course, about library services in our countries. From time to time we sent each other some riddles or better to say some "word plays” We recognized for example, that we use the same word - "Slovenka" to describe a Slovak or a Slovenian woman. Later on the Municipal Library of Hlohovec sent us some English books, which we had requested through UNAL INFO.
In 1995 we organized a great exhibition entitled "Slovenian books and illustrations of Marija Prelog ". This exhibition introduced Slovenian writers from our region. Its aim was to make Slovaks and the people of Hlohovec in particular, aware of the creativity of people who lived and/or worked in the region of town Slovenske Konjice, through literature, art and creativity of pupils from primary school "Ob Dravinji" in which the library is based.. We sent the invitation card to Hlohovec and the answer was a pleasant surprise. " Bring your exhibition to Hlohovec."
Helena: In March 1996 we started a new era of our friendship. We met each other personally on the occasion of opening the Slovenian book exhibition in Hlohovec. The exhibition was transported to Hlohovec by a coach full of children and teachers of "Ob Dravinji" Primary School. Our friends from Slovenia spent 3 very busy days in Hlohovec. The headmaster of the Slovenian school established relations between his school and 2nd Primary school in Hlohovec with children staying as guest with families. Primoz had a meeting with Slovak librarians; contractors from Slovenske Konjice met contractors from Hlohovec; Mayors of both towns also met; and finally the people of Hlohovec had an opportunity to talk with their Slovenian guests about their country, habits etc. This is the way to build a world without wars: get to know each other better.
Primoz: Those three days were really full of events. And they were a good base for new friendships, which continue up to today. For example, folk groups from Hlohovec, Slovenske Konjice and Zrece maintain friendly relation. They visit each other every year, organize common performances. Moreover, cooperation between our libraries became closer, more intensive, and from then we visit each other yearly.
Helena: The next year, 1997, we started a project of an international art contest for children aged 12 to 15 years to create book plates "EX-LIBRIS HLOHOVEC". Children from Ob Dravinji Primary School have taken part in this contest from its first year. This was also an opportunity to strengthen our cooperation. Slovenians come to Hlohovec take part in a contest finale and we transport the exhibition to Slovenske Konjice. In 1998 the Ex-Libris exhibition was opened in a private gallery in Slovenske Konjice in the presence of the Secretary-General of Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO. In 2000, our exhibition in Slovenske Konjice was opened by Slovak Consul in Slovenia.
Primoz: Our cooperation has had very good results, and as you can see, with some very positive some highlights. Some of the events that marked us are already mentioned but I would like to draw attention to the opening of 3rd year of the Ex-Libris contest in 1999, when there were two exhibitions in Hlohovec with a common Slovenian-Slovak opening programme. The first one concerned the exhibition of the winning Ex-Libris contest and the other one was an exhibition "Humour in Slovenian literature", prepared by Slovenian side. Another instance was the performance of children’s dancing group from Ob Dravinji Primary School on the occasion of 25th anniversary of 2nd Primary School of Hlohovec during our visit in Hlohovec last year.
In an era of Internet and globalization, we do not lose sight of one very important event: the social gathering of people from both countries and especially young people. For them, and for the sake of cooperation in general, pupil exchanges were, and still are, of extreme importance. By knowing each other personally, we can beat the stereotypes in the most effective way. And through the years, both libraries and schools have been very successful in that field. Today, we see old friendships continuing to mature and some families from both towns have become firm friends. People of both towns know each other better and, as we have mentioned above, this knowledge is a base for building a culture of peace, multicultural understanding and promoting equality among all people on Earth. This is the contribution of both our libraries to the future of our communities.
As already mentioned, we believe that, if nations all over the globe would know each other through their culture as equals, and try to listen to one another, there would be no wars.
The Solska Knjiznica of the Ob Dravinji Primary School from the town of Slovenske Konjice in Slovenia serves mostly the pupils and teachers of the primary school, but it is also open to the public. Its users are drawn from some 600 pupils, 50 teachers and approx.. 50 users from outside the school. Its collection contain around 11,000 book and non-book items and material. It makes around 24000 loans and occasional interlibrary loans. The library is an associate member of shared Slovenian computer catalogue - COBISS. It organizes various activities in the library mostly for children and twice a year these are extended to the wider adult public. The library joined UNAL in September 1993. Cooperation began in same year as we entered UNAL.
Helena: We received a cordial letter from Primoz Krivec our colleague and librarian from Slovenske Konjice, in which he described his library, the town and Slovenia. He proposed establishing links between our libraries to us and we accepted his offer with a pleasure.
Primoz: Our letters were full of information about our countries, regions and, of course, about library services in our countries. From time to time we sent each other some riddles or better to say some "word plays” We recognized for example, that we use the same word - "Slovenka" to describe a Slovak or a Slovenian woman. Later on the Municipal Library of Hlohovec sent us some English books, which we had requested through UNAL INFO.
In 1995 we organized a great exhibition entitled "Slovenian books and illustrations of Marija Prelog ". This exhibition introduced Slovenian writers from our region. Its aim was to make Slovaks and the people of Hlohovec in particular, aware of the creativity of people who lived and/or worked in the region of town Slovenske Konjice, through literature, art and creativity of pupils from primary school "Ob Dravinji" in which the library is based.. We sent the invitation card to Hlohovec and the answer was a pleasant surprise. " Bring your exhibition to Hlohovec."
Helena: In March 1996 we started a new era of our friendship. We met each other personally on the occasion of opening the Slovenian book exhibition in Hlohovec. The exhibition was transported to Hlohovec by a coach full of children and teachers of "Ob Dravinji" Primary School. Our friends from Slovenia spent 3 very busy days in Hlohovec. The headmaster of the Slovenian school established relations between his school and 2nd Primary school in Hlohovec with children staying as guest with families. Primoz had a meeting with Slovak librarians; contractors from Slovenske Konjice met contractors from Hlohovec; Mayors of both towns also met; and finally the people of Hlohovec had an opportunity to talk with their Slovenian guests about their country, habits etc. This is the way to build a world without wars: get to know each other better.
Primoz: Those three days were really full of events. And they were a good base for new friendships, which continue up to today. For example, folk groups from Hlohovec, Slovenske Konjice and Zrece maintain friendly relation. They visit each other every year, organize common performances. Moreover, cooperation between our libraries became closer, more intensive, and from then we visit each other yearly.
Helena: The next year, 1997, we started a project of an international art contest for children aged 12 to 15 years to create book plates "EX-LIBRIS HLOHOVEC". Children from Ob Dravinji Primary School have taken part in this contest from its first year. This was also an opportunity to strengthen our cooperation. Slovenians come to Hlohovec take part in a contest finale and we transport the exhibition to Slovenske Konjice. In 1998 the Ex-Libris exhibition was opened in a private gallery in Slovenske Konjice in the presence of the Secretary-General of Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO. In 2000, our exhibition in Slovenske Konjice was opened by Slovak Consul in Slovenia.
Primoz: Our cooperation has had very good results, and as you can see, with some very positive some highlights. Some of the events that marked us are already mentioned but I would like to draw attention to the opening of 3rd year of the Ex-Libris contest in 1999, when there were two exhibitions in Hlohovec with a common Slovenian-Slovak opening programme. The first one concerned the exhibition of the winning Ex-Libris contest and the other one was an exhibition "Humour in Slovenian literature", prepared by Slovenian side. Another instance was the performance of children’s dancing group from Ob Dravinji Primary School on the occasion of 25th anniversary of 2nd Primary School of Hlohovec during our visit in Hlohovec last year.
In an era of Internet and globalization, we do not lose sight of one very important event: the social gathering of people from both countries and especially young people. For them, and for the sake of cooperation in general, pupil exchanges were, and still are, of extreme importance. By knowing each other personally, we can beat the stereotypes in the most effective way. And through the years, both libraries and schools have been very successful in that field. Today, we see old friendships continuing to mature and some families from both towns have become firm friends. People of both towns know each other better and, as we have mentioned above, this knowledge is a base for building a culture of peace, multicultural understanding and promoting equality among all people on Earth. This is the contribution of both our libraries to the future of our communities.
As already mentioned, we believe that, if nations all over the globe would know each other through their culture as equals, and try to listen to one another, there would be no wars.
| Author | Primoz Krivec and Helena Pekarovicova |
