Helping kids read: the “Ion Creangă” Library is attracting more young readers
In a world where children are increasingly attracted to screens, the "Ion Creangă" National Children's Library in Chisinau is dedicated to making reading a delightful experience. Here, young readers are invited to enjoy stories, participate in workshops, engage in interactive programs, and attend meetings that foster a love for books.
Eugenia Bejan, the director of the institution, encourages young children to visit the library “once every two weeks or at least once a month” to borrow new stories and explore different authors.
The selection of books available is much more diverse than just classic fairy tales. She notes, “Today, we have a wide range of books. In addition to traditional stories, children can also read many works by contemporary authors, including illustrated books that are very suitable for preschoolers and young schoolchildren.”
The library collaborates closely with kindergartens and schools. Educators and teachers often bring groups of children to participate in workshops. If the journey to the library is too long, the librarians visit the institutions to read stories to the children.
Sundays are reserved for activities aimed at the little ones. Every Sunday, on a specific date, "The Story Bag" program takes place for children aged 3 to 5. This program includes games and creative activities that follow the reading sessions.
When it comes to young readers' preferences, there are many surprises.
"In addition to classic authors, children enjoy the new and fantastic characters created by contemporary Romanian writers such as Ioana Nicolaie, Adina Rosetti, and Andreea Iatagan. Today's stories are very diverse, featuring characters from other planets and even robots," says the director.
Despite all the changes, the essence of fairy tales remains unchanged: they convey important values.
Eugenia Bejan emphasizes, "You can tell a child a hundred times what is good and what is bad, and they may not listen. But when you read them a story, they immediately understand through the characters' examples. Stories teach them about kindness, courage, sadness, joy, and the various experiences we all go through."
The director emphasizes that young children are most quickly captivated by the adventure in the story, while the messages within those tales endure over time: "Each generation has its fairy tales, but the lessons are universal."
The "Ion Creangă" National Children's Library continues to be a place where books hold their magic, allowing young ones to learn to love reading freely and without constraints.
