Small street libraries in Mostar, which were set up over three months ago, are currently functioning very well and have more and more users every day. Additionally, their number in Mostar could soon increase.
Open-air libraries from which citizens can borrow a book for free but also donate their copies of books were set up by the Proni Youth Club Mostar through the project “Kreiraj sve(mir)”/”Create universe (peace)”, and they are located in five locations in the city. Until now, hundreds of books have been exchanged.
– It was the idea of our young volunteers who come to the club, who wish to do something innovative in Mostar, something that no one has done so far. In the end, we managed to make five street libraries. They work in a way that anyone can come and pick up or leave a book and read books that they want to read. Street libraries are working great for now, and the great interest of young people has been noticed – the PR of the project Harun Šetka pointed out.
He added that at the beginning it was not clear how everything will work, but numerous citizens participated in this activity in a short time, so setting up street libraries proved to be the ‘right thing to do’. You can find various literature, famous world titles, but also picture books and textbooks.
– At the beginning, people did not understand this idea and what it would all look like. They asked when they can come and what kind of books they can find in the libraries. For now, everything is working well and I think that this is “one thing” that went very well in the city of Mostar – said Šetka.
He added that in the fall, when the new school year begins, they are planning a new action of collecting books, because a lot of textbooks have been exchanged in the past period.
– The action will be organized by the employees of the Proni Youth Club in Mostar and our volunteers. We don’t care what kind of literature it is, whether it is books for children, young people or maybe textbooks. We hope for a great response from the citizens so we can fill the libraries, make them look colorful again and attract as many people as possible.
If there is a good response or if an opportunity arises within some other project, I sincerely hope that we will expand the street libraries to the rest of the city and the surrounding neighborhoods – said Šetka.
Mostar’s open-air libraries have so far been set up in front of the SPES Center for Children and Youth, the National Theater, the Croatian National Theater, in the newly renovated park on Marshal Tito Street and in front of the Cultural Center.
The action of setting up street libraries was organized as part of the project “Kreiraj sve(mir)” which was implemented in the period from November 2020 to June 2021.
(FENA), AbrašMedia
