More than a thousand books will be sent to Vilnius

More than a thousand books will be sent to two capital schools. They were collected in Tricity within “Send a book to Vilnius” campaign.

The campaign began in the middle of October and ended in the second week of January. “We have got over a thousand books that will be sent to Vilnius. Around 70% of it happens to be modern literature, new or barely used books” said for zw.lt one of the author and the organizer of the campaign, former inhabitant of Vilnius currently living in Tricity, Anna Matusewicz.

From Marquez to Sienkiweicz

In declaration made by organizers of “Send a book to Vilnius” campaign it is emphasized that young people learning in Polish schools in Vilnius have limited access to publishing news. Because of the lack of funds, students read mainly classics and essential reading. But Polish literature didn’t end together with Positivism!

Expectations of organizers were fulfilled. Collected volumes are: books for the youngest, children and teenagers by Nienacki, Niziurski, Musierowicz, Farther, there are bestsellers like Harry Potter and four novels of Twilight series or The Chronicles of Narnia. Also classics like Marquez, Sienkiewicz or contemporary Polish writers such as Terrakowska, Tokarczuk, Kapuściński, Stasiuk, and lots of fantasy and travel books – Pratchett, Sapkowski, Pilipiuk, Tolkien.

“Frankly speaking, I was warmly touched many times. People called or wrote me asking what kind of books they should buy. They brought not only their own favourite books but also new ones from shops. The interests was really strong taking into consideration originally small campaign. Books were given by bookstores from Gdynia, pupils of several schools in Gdańskaand Sopot, we got many parcels also from other Polish cities like Poznań, Częstochowa, Warszawa, Gorzów” said Matusewicz.

Books will be donated to Adam Mickiewicz Gymnasium and Szymon Konarski School in Vilnius. “This campaign made us really happy, especially that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our school” said happily Katerina Valeikienė , the manager of the library of Szymon Konarski School.

Transport to Vilnius?

At the end of the campaign organizers faced an unexpected logistic problem. It is still not sure when exactly books will be transported to Vilnius. “We need someone who will go soon from Gdańsk to Vilnius and would help us with transport” said Matusewicz.

The compaign was supported by the Provincial and Municipal Public Library in Gdańsk.

“I would like to take this opportunity and thank everyone for open hearts. Special thanks goes to the crew of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library in Gdańsk that not only provided us with safe space to store books but also took care of collecting them from donors” said the blogger.

Anna Matusewicz for quite a long time now co-runs a blog Misja: K.S.I.Ą.Ż.K.A., which is dedicated to promote reading. Last year, the blog was honoured in the ‘Blog of Gdańsk’ competition.

Source: http://zw.lt/kultura/ponad-tysiac-ksiazek-pojedzie-do-wilna/

Tłumaczenie by Sara Howicka w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Sara Howicka within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.