The issue of attracting young people and seniors to libraries was discussed under the slogan of They Will (Not) Come Anyway at the 15th National Library Congress that took place at Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw on November 19 and 20, 2024. The discussion was focused on ways of breaking down the intergenerational barriers.
The National Library Congress is an event for librarians from all over Poland that is regularly held by the Information Society Development Foundation under the Library Development Program.
This year the host of the event was Filip Jędruch, a radio journalist, an expert of communication and use of new technologies by NGOs, associated with the “Sector 3.0” program.
In the opening address, PAFF Program Director Joanna Lempart spoke about important subject of diversity and synergy in program offer of Polish-American Freedom Foundation, pointing to the Library Development Program as an example. “We managed to create open space for everybody in over 4,200 libraries in Poland. Libraries have proved that many times, accepting refugees but also focusing on topics important on a global scale, such as environment and climate protection or disinformation counteracting, that can be a common denominator for intergenerational actions,” Joanna Lempart said.
In turn Jacek Królikowski, the President of the Information Society Development Foundation pointed to the integrating role of libraries: “One of the fundamental characteristics of libraries is that they are open to everybody, they don’t divide people. If we offer people the space for them, they will come for sure.”
The special guest at the Congress was Dr. Paweł Grabowski, a PAFF Leader and the founder of Podlaskie Oncology Hospice Foundation (currently renamed to Prophet Elijah Hospice Foundation).
What can libraries offer to seniors? How to make an offer interesting for that group? These issues were discussed with psychologist, academic teacher at the Department of Human Development Support at SWPS Dr. Edyta Bonk. And the ways of attracting young people to libraries were discussed by Filip Jędruch with teacher, co-founder of Artes Liberales High School Jarosław Szulski.
You could also find these topics in conversations with Jolanta Janiec (About the Library of Zones ) – a PAFF Leader and the director of Municipal Public Library of Hrubieszów Heritage Center, a member of InicjaTyWy and LABiB associations, an animator of TAU in Hrubieszów, as well as with Agnieszka Sikorska of Cooperativa studio, and Dr. Agnieszka Cieśla – an architect and urban planner, a lecturer at Department of Spatial Management and Environmental Science at Warsaw University of Technology, the founder of Despite the Age Foundation. “What can we do to make young people and seniors meet and have a sensible and calm conversation? (…) It is about finding time, caring for relationships, maintaining the dialogue,” Professor Tadeusz Sławek, a literature interpreter, translator, writer and columnist noted.
Facilitators: Karolina Pluta – a theater educator, coach and performer, Ida Bocian – an actress and director, culture animator, Magdalena Latuch – a facilitator, coach, advisor, Dr. Magdalena Rosochacka-Gmitrzak – a sociologist and specialist in gerontology also spoke with the Congress participants about the needs of young people and seniors.
Apart from that, the Congress made an opportunity to hand over the scholarships awarded under Olga Rok Competition to librarians from all over Poland for their outstanding work benefitting their local community.
In Small Library category the award went to Joanna Przybyło of Władysław Stanisław Reymont Communal Public Library at Wierzchosławice for their activities aimed at counteracting the climate change which help to integrate local community and make numerous organizations and institutions cooperate.
In Larger Library category the main prize went to Alesia Tarasenka of Tadeusz Mikulski Dolnośląska Public Library in Wrocław for activities aimed at integrating minorities and promotion of openness and dialogue, including intercultural workshops and psychological workshops.
Congress offered many workshops for librarians allowing them to improve their knowledge, establish new contacts, share their experiences and discuss on designing interesting library offer and classes for young people and seniors.
15th Library Congress was attended by over 200 participants. The event was broadcast live on Facebook and on YT channel.
