Village Living Room / Obecní knihovna J. M. Hovorky Statenice

Sustainability

Community

Media education

Kids

City size: to 5000
Type: Communal
https://www.obyvakvesnice.cz/
Statenická 23, 252 62 Statenice, Central Bohemia Czechia

Contact person
Barbora Černohorská , knihovna@statenice.cz

The Story of the Village Living Room: We have children in the same school. In a school outside Statenice, because there is no school here. One day, sometime in January 2017, Bára came to Zuzka’s place to pick up Julča, because that day it was Zuzka who picked up the children from school. We talked and the conversation turned to the library. We found out that Ms. Květa (the librarian at the time) wanted to quit the library, and that we had the opportunity to take over the library. The village lacked a place for regular joint meetings, and we decided that very day to turn the small municipal J. M. Hovorka Library into a community library, which local children and adults will revive together.

During February and March, we processed the grant application, Pavlína joined us to help us organize a benefit book auction in May. Thanks to the support of many local residents, our friends and family, several publishing houses, thanks to the VIA Foundation and its Living Community program, and thanks to the support of the mayor Miroslava Šmardová, who gave us confidence and a free hand, we succeeded. Zuzka and Bára became librarians (Pavlína continues to volunteer) and the library really became the Village Living Room.

People come here not only for books, but also to meet, watch a movie, play a record or create together, get inspired or inspire others, talk, exercise, play the piano, or just relax in a chair and read. In 2021, during the mayorship of Mrs. Apolena Novotná, the conditions for all these and other community activities were improved by moving the library to the newly reconstructed so-called “little house” next to the municipal office and also by extending the opening hours. Librarians became employees of the municipal office.
The living room of the village became the LIBRARY of the YEAR 2021.

The management of the Statenice municipality, led by the mayor Apolena Novotna, owes a big thank you for supporting the library.

Vote for animals

Typ: Sustainability Community Media education Kids

Link: https://www.obyvakvesnice.cz/

A voting workshop for elementary school children based on the book VOLTE ZVÍŘATA! (VOTE FOR ANIMALS!). Politics are often even hard for adults to understand, but this book explains it in a way that every child will understand. The workshop is intended for primary and middle school children. It is 1.5-2 hours long and is divided into two parts. In the first part, the children learn about the book and the story, and in the second part they work in groups. The children get to try out what it is like to choose a suitable candidate for the election of a president of an animal country, create an effective election campaign, be successful in a pre-election debate, and finally, determine the winner with a secret ballot. This activity helps introduce children to the pitfalls of election campaigns and manipulative behaviour in an unforced manner. It aims to help them become more resistant to misinformation and empty promises. The children get the chance to improve their presentation skills in a safe environment. They learn to work in groups.

Contact person

Barbora Černohorská
knihovna@statenice.cz