Estonian municipalities seek to get children reading through libraries — ERR News
Municipalities in Estonia are considering closer cooperation between school and public libraries to make it easier for children to access books and encourage them to read more. As ERR News reports, the law requires libraries to be located in or near a school, but the specific library service model is determined by local authorities.
Shared libraries near schools
Irene Käosaar, principal of Narva Estonian State Gymnasium, noted that children are more likely to start reading if they see books more often, hold them in their hands and observe people reading. According to her, reading also helps schoolchildren learn better.
In Jõgeva, the school and public libraries were merged seven years ago. Agne Vaalmae, cultural adviser at the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, believes such spaces can become places for children to study, meet and engage with culture, which they will visit independently.
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In Rae Parish near Tallinn, the school and public libraries have operated together for about 20 years. Ülle Siska, director of the Rae municipal library, said that locating the library in the school building significantly increases its accessibility for students and teachers. According to her, if the institution remained about a kilometre from the school, it would have significantly fewer visitors.
The role of libraries in finding reliable information
At the same time, specialists warn that merging libraries should not mean doing without a librarian: shelves of books alone are not enough to encourage children to read.
Kristi Veber, chair of the board of the Estonian Library Association, stressed that amid an excess of information and the spread of artificial intelligence, libraries are increasingly serving as a reliable source of information and advice. In the near future, updates to the Public Libraries Act are expected to define more clearly the framework for cooperation between school and public libraries.
