CULTURE: In the Year of Libraries, travel libraries will be opened at five Estonian bus stations

Today, 11.05.2022 at 12:00, travel libraries will be opened at Tallinn Bus Station. For the theme year, bookshelves will be initially opened at Tallinn, Tartu, Rakvere and Jõhvi bus stations, from where passengers can take their favourite literature for a bus ride to read. Travel libraries will be supplied by the Estonian Repository Library.

“This year’s library theme year is well suited to shift the concept and boundaries of libraries. Libraries are an important and immediate network with great opportunities,” said Minister of Culture Tiit Terik. “On the way, we tend to forget that instead of rushing, we can take time for ourselves, put our phone or computer away and relax while reading a book. Therefore, I encourage everyone to use the opportunities of travel libraries and spend the bus ride in the company of a good book,” added Terik.

In connection with the Year of Libraries, travel libraries will be opened at Tallinn, Tartu, Rakvere and Jõhvi bus stations. Passengers can take books from bookshelves with them for free. Books do not have to be returned, but they can be left on the bookshelf of another bus station if it is there.

Travel libraries will be provided by the Estonian Repository Library, which stores literature worth reading from other Estonian libraries, institutions and private persons.

“Tallinn, Tartu, Rakvere and Jõhvi bus stations are one of the largest in Estonia. From about three to four million passengers pass through these bus stations every year,” said Hugo Osula, owner of T grupp OÜ. “So it is great to be able to bring reading to so many people together and make travelling even more enjoyable. I can already say, under the veil of secrecy, that the bookshelf will soon also reach passengers of Haapsalu,” Osula added.

Bookshelves with a similar solution have previously been opened at Tallinn Airport, Valga Railway Station, Tori Bus Station, Are Bus Station and Pärnu Bus Station.

The Year of Libraries was launched by the Ministry of Culture and is run by the Estonian National Library in cooperation with 870 libraries.

Read more about the Year of Libraries from their website raamatukogudeaasta.ee!