Behind the Bookshelves

EDITION

2022, Shortlisted

school

DocDocDoc School of Modern Photography,
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Village libraries are crucial in any village's social structure as well as their communal lifestyle. Reading is not the main cause for visiting; each library is a centre for education, cultural events, and entertainment. The spaces are used for distributing news, celebrating anniversaries, and social gatherings. Many of the libraries are managed by just one employee each, most of them being women. Some choose to become librarians as a career, while others come from different backgrounds, such as teaching or programming. Most librarians work part-time. Because of the financing gap, full-time positions in libraries do not exist. Village libraries' book funds rarely receive contributions. 

Mobile data and smartphones have driven the public interest toward digital resources to which village libraries often don't have access. The librarians compensate for the decline of interest in printed editions and the infrequent donations to the funds by organizing various events within the library spaces, such as celebrations of renowned writers and poets' anniversaries, lectures on local history, open gatherings for children and adults, numerous workshops and quizzes.

Village libraries are slipping away. Soon many of them may be closed as the population of the countryside continues to decrease.