TALSI CHILDREN LIBRARY from Latvia

We are interesting for children…

Map of Latvia

Region Talsi

The territorial reform has taken place:

• There are 109 regions in Latvia instead of 26 ones;

• People are not satisfied with this reform;• Methodical control over Talsi regional libraries

remains the previous;• There are 26 libraries under control of Talsi

Main library;• 4 libraries are on the coast of the Baltic See.

The centre of region –Talsi town

• Talsi is very nice and picturesque;• The town lies on nine hills and between two

lakes;• There are about 11.000 inhabitants in the town.There are:• 6 schools, 5 kindergartens;• The company of dairy production;• Road building company;• Printing works company;• 2 museums;

• Two bookshops;• Three churches(lutheran, baptist, catholic);• Press office of newspaper “News from Talsi”;• Regional TV;• Two hotels;• Banks, many supermarkets and small shops;

And Two libraries, of course!( the Main library and the Children

library).They are far from one another.

TALSI CHILDREN LIBRARY

• Children library was founded in 1951;

• Today library is institution with its own operation budget;

• The library is in old house and is situated in the old part of the town;

• The library is situated between 2 hills and 2 lakes.

I look at the lake from my window and can see swans flying from the South, bringing up the birdies, and flying away in autumn.

Ranges of activities

• Forming the funds of library, accounting,conservancy;• Service for children, teenagers, youth and adults, who

are interested in our collection and services;• Forming catalogues and card files of different themes,

such as illustrations from children books, card files of poems on many themes; card files of different things and subjects( cat, dog, apple);

• Forming a general catalogue together with the Main library;

• Cooperation in organizing different activities, presentations, meetings with 6 schools, 5 kindergartens, art school, music school, Talsi News edition,TV of Talsi, Talsi museum;

• Methodological work in some fields of children service, for example, in process of Children Jury, organization of reading activities from Nordic countries;

Some activities of Talsi children library

• Involvement of the readers. It is an excursion in library. We invite all

first classes from schools of Talsi. But only one class for one excursion.

Personages of children books, for example, the dog Pif, or mousy, meet pupils. Then they go to the reading hall and meet Hotabich, pupils enter the loan for little children - there is cat Hercules and librarian.

Each one of personages tells about something interesting.

• Meetings with wtiters. This is an area of work, that has developed since the foundation of the library.This work has changed together with the changes of writer`s generations.Our sacred duty is to develop linkage- writer – librarian – reader!

The best results can be achieved if a writer personally speeks with readers.

There are many reasons for inviting writers to the library:

• Days of Poetry( in September);• Celebration of Reading and Children

Jury(November – February);

• Week of Libraries ( in April);• Celebration of Books (in Spring);• A new book of invited writer has been

published;• Readers favourite writer.We wish to maintain the reading of books

especially nowadays when the priority of the children is TV, different games, computers,etc.

Writers, translators,illustrators visit our library 4 – 5 times a year.

It is very exciting to get acquainted with new

writers who understand children very well and who are in similar feelings with the readers.

For example, this year we got acquainted with a young writer Kristine Ulberga – Rubine. Her communication with teenagers was fantastic.

Great Celebration of ReadingIt is a form of work, where other libraries of our region take part. They

are participients of Children Jury.It takes place as follows:• The process of the Reading Program that was announced by the

Centre of Children literature has finished;• Children from 4 groups have read 5 books each and have chosen

the best 3 books in each group. The total amount of winners is12 books;

• The process is computarized and we can get the news about winners- books of Talsi region at once, with one computer click;

• I invite the children – experts and librarians to Talsi Cultural House – the total amount of children about 500 and librarians – 30;

• The arrangement always starts with a speech of the head of Talsi;• The activity is conducted by personages of Children Jury book –

skip girl, rat, young pig, Mr.cock;

• Then 12 winners books are celebrated;

• Experts from libraries play etude based on one of the winner book on the stage. So in such a way 12 times;

• It is emotional experience for children from far away libraries;

• Culmination is GREAT PRIZE: performance of popular singer or musical.

CONCLUSIONS about READING PROGRAM

• The Program has already been in process for 8 years ;

• The Program is comprehensive and effective for libraries;

• The Program is attractive and pleasant for children, too;

• The Program is a stimulating method of how to develop the creative imagination of readers and librarians.

“HOBBY of my TEACHER”

• It is a form of work in our library, I think very important, with great vitality and fascinating for readers;

• We look for the teacher with interesting hobby in our town or region;

• We invite to exibit this hobby in our library, we add there books about the hobby;

• After 3 – 4 weeks we invite readers to activity lead by our quest;

• In result the children understand and feel better their teachers.

The hobbies exhibited in our library

• painting on bottles;

• making of simbols and emblems of Talsi town;

• making pottery;

• felting art;

• weaving without weaves.

• New form of work is perfomances after children books.

• Theatre company of children and teenagers has been founded in our library. Librarian Vita is a director of it.

To my mind, our work with children is good and interesting.

There are interesting forms of work in other libraries of the region

• Roja children library with the help of local municipality has founded premium of children writer and illustrater. It takes place every 2 years.

• Sabiles children librarians are good actresses and activities for children are exciting.

• An interactive reading room has been created in Dundagas library with the help of Netherland charity fund.

As there is a certain time limit, it`s impossible for me to tell you about all the activities of our library and other libraries of our region.

Thank you for attention!