Favorite libraries

Although library bulidings come in all sizes and shapes, and that the people inside is the most important thing about the library, I still have a few favorite libraries and want to share them with anybody who reads this blog.

The norwegian book boat Epos is my absolute favorite. I have worked on board for six years, three as the librarian in charge of planning and running the show in the Hordaland area. When you work on board you live, eat and breathe library. It is book centred and you meet people on islands where you would never go otherwise. This is the absolute top experience I have had as librarian.

Camping library Nord-Koster

I must have a thing for small and out of the ordinary libraries. This next library is situatet in one of the most beautiful places I know. The north Koster island on the swedish west coast.

Filed under: Library 1.0, Scandinavia , favorite, libraries

Save the Bookboat!

The executive of the Hordaland county will propose the cancellation of the world oldest bookboat “Epos” before the county assembly on december 9th.

Epos has sailed for 50 years on the west coast of Norway and visited literally hundreds of small communities, often without road connection in the fjords or out on the islands along the coast. The bookboat carries about 3.500 books and also offers live entertainment for childrens at most stops.

The bookboat is a unique experience if you are a librarian. You live on the boat with other librarians, the crew and the artists or authors who provide the entertainment on board for up to three weeks at a time. You sail in the most beautiful landscape in the world and meet people and see places that you would never ever meet otherwise. A fantastic life and I will never forget my five years with three trips per year. (I should mention that I hold the record for most seasick librarian on the bookboat so far).

Now the bookboat is again threatened. Politicians from the right party, the progress party and the christian popular party (sounds like a third world republic when I write the party names in english), want to cancel the bookboat to save 480,000 norwegian kroner (about 80,000 US$) and thereby raze one of the few cultural activities and public services that these small places around the coast recieves.

There is a petition to sign for all who wants to keep the bookboat floating and delivering library services. The petition is in norwegian, if you only read english and want to support the struggle please leave a comment here on the blog:-) All support is appreciated.

Filed under: Library 1.0, Norway