Shared library Spilno

Shared library Spilno_ee. A brief overview of activities in 2023

The Shared library is a space for books, creativity and communication in Tallinn. It is a charity project created by volunteers who love reading

In 2023 the library grew by 1,500 books:

• 700 books were ordered from Ukrainian publishers (with the support of the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, and thanks to fundraising)
• Another 856 books were donated by library readers, friends and caring people both in Estonia and in Ukraine.

We opened Spilno shelves at the Rakvere library and at the Ukrainian day centre in Pärnu, so that children outside Tallinn can also read interesting contemporary books in Ukrainian. We also opened one at the consular section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia to help Ukrainians pass the time while waiting in the queue.

We also supported with books the project “Library on Wheels” on Saaremaa and the children’s room of the Ukrainian centre “For soul, body and mind”.

With the support of the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, the library team held more than 60 sessions in which, through reading, conversation, games and creativity, we helped children keep a strong connection with Ukrainian culture, improve their native language and fall in love with the wonderful world of books:

• 22 Spilno Reading and Spilno Crafting sessions (for children aged 3–6 and 7–12)
• 14 meetings of the Ukrainian conversation club for children “Palianytsia”
• 4 classes in Samchykivka painting
• 20 classes at the Writing Workshop with Marko Teren
• 4 creative meetings with Ukrainian and Estonian writers

We held classes in schools in Tallinn and Maardu, at the Rakvere library, at the Ukrainian day centre in Pärnu, as guests of the Ambassador of Ukraine Maksym Kononenko and at the Ukrainian Saturday school “Labora”.
The library also hosted 4 classes on the state and folk symbols of Ukraine together with the Ukrainian Youth Association in Estonia.

Together with Mrs Velida Kent, the wife of the Ambassador of the United States of America, we launched the SpilnoEnglish Club – wonderful English classes for children. Two of them took place at Mrs Kent’s home and gave Ukrainian children the chance to practise English through books and conversation and to learn about American traditions of celebrating Halloween and Christmas.

At the end of the summer we also held a series of meetings for teenagers on the psychology of communication to help them gain useful skills in understanding their own feelings and boundaries and in communicating comfortably with their peers.

The Shared library is a space where we do everything together with our readers. This year we planted a small garden together in the Pihjala city garden, went to the cinema together for the opening of the Children’s Film Club of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations, went ice-skating together, visited museums and spent holidays together, took part in children’s fairs and celebrated together.

Every week we drew together at the Club for Drawing Birds and Other Wonders, watched cartoons together at the library and met dozens of times to craft, play board games, and come up with and bring to life children’s ideas and fantasies.