What day is it?

We are already used to the fact that we learn about news from the Internet, we usually communicate in messengers, we read electronic publications and we almost forgot what silence is like in the library hall, where there is such a special smell of printed books.

If the question: “When was the last time you went to the library?” answer: “Very recently”, then you are probably either a student or you mean the school library, which is currently the most accessible cultural and educational environment for more than 4 million students in almost 15 thousand schools in Ukraine.

School libraries have their own holiday, which is celebrated annually on the fourth Monday of October — International School Library Day.

How did the idea of ​​celebrating the International Day of School Libraries come about?

Our distant ancestors valued books and education even in the times of Russia. Prince Volodymyr opened schools where students studied by copying books. During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, the first library appeared at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

In the 11th century, among other schools, there were already so-called “schools of book learning”, which trained young professionals for the areas of management, culture, and church life. A characteristic feature of such schools was learning with the help of books and texts. It is interesting that the teachers of that period were called “bookmen”.

The advent of book printing became a factor of great changes in library work. Already in the 16th century. large book repositories appeared in Ostroh and Lviv. In the 1630s, the library of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy began to take shape (the founder was Petro Mohyla, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halytskyi). The wealthy Ukrainian nobility began to form their own large libraries.

In the part of Ukraine that was part of the Russian Empire, the reform of the 1860s played a major role in the development of school libraries. The creation of a public school and a network of student libraries began. Voluntary donations and tuition fees became the main source of funds for this. On the Ukrainian lands that belonged to Austria-Hungary, libraries operated thanks to the cultural and educational centers of “Enlightenment”.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, in connection with the acceleration of technical progress, there was a rapid development of libraries, including school libraries.

In Soviet times, school libraries existed in every educational institution. They were generally well supplied with the necessary literature, but the direction of children’s reading interests was largely subordinated to communist ideology.

During the period of independence of Ukraine, school libraries are going through a difficult period of reformation and improvement together with the education system as a whole. They face the task of turning not only into real educational centers, but also into leisure centers that meet modern requirements as much as possible.

The work of libraries is determined by the Law “On Education”, the Regulation on the library of a general educational institution, the Law “On Libraries and Library Affairs”.

International Day of School Libraries in History

• 1971

  The International Association of School Libraries was created. Its role is to provide an international forum for all those interested in the effective development of school library programs as a tool of the educational process.
• 1989

  The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted, where Article 28 provides for the child’s right to education, including the right to access information and materials.
• 1999

  UNESCO established the International Day of School Libraries.
• 2005

  The International Association of School Libraries recognized the holiday at the official level.
• 2008

  The International Month of School Libraries was held for the first time, and since then it has been held every year in October.

Frequent Questions and answers on the International Day of School Libraries

How to celebrate International Day of School Libraries?

Different countries have their own special celebration traditions on this day. For example, in Australia they wear national costumes, in Poland there are widespread reading contests, in Romania actions are held to collect books for school libraries, in the Czech Republic children compete in creating the best book covers. The University of Rome holds seminars on the problems of school libraries.

In Ukraine, the celebration of the All-Ukrainian Library Day, which is celebrated every year on September 30, is more traditional. But every year the International Day of School Libraries in our country is gaining popularity.

1. On this day, in Ukraine, as in most countries of the world, all school librarians accept congratulations on the professional holiday. Educational seminars are organized for them, veterans of library work are honored, and numerous events are held for schoolchildren. These are actually excursions to the library, where schoolchildren learn the history of the appearance of books and the history of the institution itself, intellectual games and quizzes that contribute to the mental development of children and entertain them.
2. There are also contests for the best portrait of a literary hero and theatrical productions that recreate scenes from favorite works.
3. First-graders are introduced to the rules of behavior in the library and a careful attitude to books. Teachers and parents of students also participate in these events.
4. Parents of schoolchildren on this day can take the initiative and organize a themed party for children, where everyone will talk about their favorite literary works, or invite a local writer or poet to talk about his books.
5. You can also organize a contest for the best story or poem about the school library, hold a costume contest on the theme of some historical book.

Such actions will encourage children to visit the school library more often and read books more actively.

Why is this day important?

The objective reality of our time is that children now read less — there are too many other sources of information.

Therefore, the main goal of the school library is to instill in students a taste for the very process of reading a traditional book.

But the school library is also serious research work, from the ability to find the right book and acquaintance with popular science literature to the formation of perfect skills of interaction with the information space.

1. The library helps to understand that education is not limited to the period of study, but continues throughout life. It is necessary not only for students, but also for teachers.
2. Materials from periodicals, recommendations for reading, a review of interesting novelties — all this leads to the library of adults. The calm atmosphere, attention to everyone, consideration of individual interests is also attractive.
3. It is no secret that school libraries in Ukraine have many difficulties. They are often insufficiently supplied with both fiction and modern technology and even have problems with the repair of the premises. This holiday is an occasion for charity actions to collect books, financial and technical assistance to our school libraries.

International School Library Day is an important holiday that draws the attention of the whole society to school libraries and helps to understand the importance of books in the lives of our children

When will we celebrate International day of school libraries?