Heather amulet for readers. We went with Shklov librarians to the land of miraculous springs

How in the age of the Internet, endless feeds of social networks, gigabytes of fast and empty information to find a way to the hearts of readers, to instill in them a love of the book? The answer is known to Shklov librarians, who, in addition to literary novelties, offer guests to treat themselves to water, lime tea, fragrant jam. They organize competitions, creative literary cafes, bicycle rides, developed an ecological and local lore route “The Edge of Wonderworking Springs”. We have decided to join the sources of wisdom.

The center of this wonderful universe is, of course, the library itself. The funds of the central district number 101 thousand copies of books. On the shelves coexist modern literary novelties and book treasures, which are about a hundred years old. History lovers can touch rarities published in the 20s and 30s: volumes by Pushkin, Lermontov, browse through books with autographs by famous Belarusian writers.

The reading room is not only amazing. A real magnet for visitors is exhibitions. There's a lot of them. For example, the sentry, which presents both ancient mechanisms and chronometers of different times. Many exhibits are gifts from grateful readers, which they pass on to the library collection.

- In my opinion, this is symbolic: time seems to take shape, reminding of the continuity of generations, says Tamara Minkina, director of the Centralized Library Network of the Shklovsky District. To attract readers, we introduce new forms of work. Talking about the roots of our land - outstanding countrymen, points on the map of the area where it is worth visiting - we go beyond the usual book halls.

Tamara Minkina. Before going on a tour, librarians pack wonderful wicker baskets into the minibus. In them - they baked cake, apples, fragrant herbs, thermoses with tea. Spiritual encounters in the bosom of nature are preceded by a whole ritual.

- In the season of harvesting medicinal herbs, we go to the fields to collect heather, thyme, lime, Ivan-tea, then their sushi, says librarian Ekaterina Shumilova on the way. - Mint and melissa are grown in our homesteads. Like raspberries, plums, apples, from which we boil jam. We make craft - from squash: with kiwis, oranges. We pack in small curly jars to treat readers and tourists. On excursions with us go not only Shklov residents - residents of other cities also join. In August, for example, about a hundred people were taken to the famous Trofimov Krinitsa, equipped in the agro-town of Alexandria by the grandfather of our President.

Ekaterina Shumilova. On Trofimova, we have been repeatedly, so this time we choose the second most popular crynitsa - "Healer" - in Gorodishche. The place is wonderful: on the banks of the Basi River there is a spring, next to a font, cozy wooden benches, a gazebo and a swing.

- You should take at least three sips. The first is for the body, so that the water washed away all fatigue, the second is for the soul to be filled with a good mood, the third is for dreams.

After making wishes, we go to a master class to make amulets from flowers and herbs. They are made by tourists from trendy lavender, bells, bread spikelets. Take with them in bouquets, hang on backpacks. In September, by the way, amulets are created from heather (which librarians brought already from the Brest region!), because at this time it is gaining strength and September in Belarusian - "verasen".

Eight-graders of Gorodische School Anastasia Senchilo and Daria Gerasimova, enthusiastically collecting miniature bouquets, do not even think about gadgets. But at the last moment they catch: “We did not film the process on video, you need to photograph at least the result. And the entourage - even if others come here, enjoy the beauty of nature, the charm of our small homeland.

Irina Seledtsova, Daria Gerasimova and Anastasia Senchilo. Those who did not reach Alexandria or Gorodishch (there are other crynitsa in the Shklovsky district), librarians offer to visit no less wonderful locations. For example, on the site at the reading room, they organized a tent literary cafe, where next to an old cookbook, they put up a recipe dish from it, and next to the volume of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury – jelly from yellow flowers. All this could not only be seen, but also tried. It is clear that guests did not pass by such aesthetics.

- It was in the Soviet Union that our work was strictly regulated - thematic exhibitions were necessarily prepared for each party congress, recalls librarian with 43 years of experience Irina Seledtsova. Today we are free in our work, we decide what to attract, surprise the reader, and this freedom gives rise to amazing projects. By combining sources of knowledge with the natural heritage of the region, Shklov librarians found an approach to the modern reader. And they continue to prove that virtual pages will never replace the rustle of printed, live human communication, will not give warmth and pride for their roots. kislyak@sb.by