The "On a Visit to Books" project celebrates its fifth anniversary! In January 2016, the National Library launched a project for children aimed at developing interest in the history of the book and promoting the national book heritage.
Classes are held in the Book Museum, which has become an active space for young book scholars for dialogue, games and creativity. A lot of events of the project took place during the five years of activity. Museum pedagogy specialists have achieved significant successes and created interesting innovative developments.
We highlight 5 successful results of the project:
1. Children like to come to the book museum.
One of the important criteria of the project's effectiveness is to "involve" children in the life of the museum so that they are not limited to a one-time visit, but return again and again. The appeal of the classes lies in the possibility of studying book culture among the original book monuments exhibited in the museum, in direct contact with the artefacts and in the possibility of personal observation and participation. The knowledge is facilitated by an extraordinary museum atmosphere, friendships, where every child feels at ease and at the same time everyone is passionate about the common cause.
2. The method of organizing classes has been developed.
As part of the project, a unique method of organizing classes on the subject of book culture has been developed. The methods are aimed at creating opportunities for communication, educational development and realization of children's creativity. As part of the project, a program consisting of a series of classes was created: "The Book Professors' Club", "Lessons in the Museum", "Museum Readings". An important result was the release of a non-fiction book on the history of book culture for children. The technique allows you to actively learn about the history of the book and helps to increase interest in learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers were offered distance learning that did not replace real encounters, but allowed them to keep in touch with regular visitors and drew new customers' attention to the museum of books and book culture.
3. Interaction with the Belarusian cultural figures to the project.
The project has become more interesting and bright thanks to creative meetings and participation of well-known cultural figures associated with the book. Researchers of books, artists, writers, musicians who shared their knowledge, creativity and love of the book were invited to the classes.
4. Participation in related republican and international projects.
The "On a Visit to Books" project joins many projects of the republican and international level, which also contributes to its development. Thus, classes were held at the Minsk International Book Fair, as part of the Days of Belarusian Writing, the Republican Weeks of Children's and Youth Books, the City and Books Festival, the "Biblionoch" campaign, etc. A unique experience was the conduct of classes within the framework of exhibition projects of the National Library: "Francisk Skaryna and his era", "Belarus and the Bible", "The Primer", "Brest Bible" and others.
5. The demand for the project in the professional sphere.
Theoretical developments and practical experience are actively used in the library, museum and educational spheres. The results of the project and developments were presented at dozens of scientific conferences and scientific and practical seminars, on the pages of scientific and scientific and methodological publications. Many libraries in the country have organized classes for children, lectures and workshops for professionals.
Congratulations to all participants and friends of the project on the first anniversary and thank you for your cooperation!
If you have not been to the museum classes in the library, then sincerely invite!
Bibliology Research Department
