Ksenia Inverse

Behind the Bookshelves | Village libraries form a crucial part in the social structure of any village 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. Village libraries nourish patriotism in the youth besides preserving national traditions and historical knowledge. 

Many of the libraries are managed by just one employee each, most of them being women. They are the ones in charge of decorating the spaces which is why each library possesses a unique interior.

Village libraries' book funds rarely receive contributions; some funds have but a few hundreds of books available. Mobile data and smartphones have driven the public interest towards digital resources which village libraries often don’t have access to. The librarians compensate for the decline of interest in printed editions and the infrequent donations to the funds with organising 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. ksenia-inverse.com