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Aslı Erdoğan, ICORN Fellow in Krakow and in Wysokie Obcasy!

In the newest issue of Wysokie Obcasy, readers will find an interview with Aslı Erdoğan, the Turkish writer and reporter, who takes on complex and controversial political topics. Her works are banned in Turkey, and she might be incarcerated if she ever returns to Turkey. This is why Erdoğan – known for her involvement in human rights movements (especially supporting the Kurdish minority) – has been living in Krakow, a city which is a part of the international cities of refuge network for persecuted writers and human rights defenders, as one of the ICORN Fellows. The writer activelycontributed to the literary life in Krakow by participating in many discussions, interviews and conversations, including during the Conrad Festival, where she took part in the meeting entitled “The Minority Report: Women and Kurds in Asli Erdoğan’s Turkey”. She also appeared in various media with nationwide coverage, including Program 2 of Polskie Radio and Dzień Dobry TVN.

The interview, published in Wysokie Obcasy is a perfect opportunity to get to know Erdoğan as a woman, as well as a writer – especially given that her works are still mostly unknown to the majority of readers, even though she is widely acclaimed and recognised all over the world. The ICORN Fellow has published over 200 articles (many of which were critical towards governments and politicians), both in Turkish and international media. Her texts were translated into many languages, including French, Danish, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Bosnian, German and Bulgarian. Fragments of her prose were staged in Milan and appeared in theatres, and one of her short stories was adapted into a film in France. French literary periodical Lire listed the author among the 50 writers of the future and claimed that her works are classics of our times.

The City Council of Krakow has adopted a programme of supporting cultural activities in bookstores. As part of this programme, the first Polish competition intended for foundations and associations that plan to organise literary events in brick-and-mortar bookstores will be created. Bookstores that function as foundations, or independent organisations that contribute to the revival of bookstores as cultural centres and meeting places can benefit from the programme.

Every year, Krakow bookstores host nearly 300 author evenings, discussions, workshops, film screenings or travel slideshows. Numerous readers gather at regular meetings at bookstores such as Bonobo, De Revolutionibus, Lokator, Massolit and Pod Globusem.

The resolution, which was voted in unanimously, was introduced by a group of councillors under the leadership of Tomasz Urynowicz, at the initiative of the Krakow Festival Office – the operator of the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature programme. The initiative gives booksellers the ability to develop worthwhile, grassroots cultural activities, which have transformed many Krakow bookstores into modern meeting places, as well as authentic conversations about books.

The application process for the programme, which will be conducted by the Department of Culture and National Heritage of the Krakow City Hall, has begun

The resolution is part of the strategy of supporting the development of the creative sector connected with literature, included in the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature programme, which is operated by the Krakow Festival Office. Brick-and-mortar bookstores are essential to maintaining interest in reading – according to the CBOS Public Opinion Research Centre studies, bookstores are where buyers most frequently browse books and make decision about purchasing them.

The Krakow protected industries programme and the eligibility of bookstores that also conduct additional complementary activities in the field of small catering (bookstore-cafés) to rent discount in city locations were extended last year as part of the strategy. The first bookstores to take advantage of this solution have already opened in Krakow. The campaign “Read Locally”, organised by the Krakow Festival Office in November and December of last year was also part of the strategy. The campaign included a series of lectures with the employees and frequent visitors of selected Krakow bookstores, and several dozen Krakow bookstores received seasonal bags – an addition to pre-holiday shopping (more information in the attachment).

Mystery Hunters is an educational library game, which can be played in 4 public library branches in Krakow. The players become detectives who solve mysteries. They receive special ID cards, as well as paper and pencils to make their work easier. During their investigation, they get on the literary trail and solve the mysteries they find on the way by collecting fragments of the solution from various books found in the hints. The map, catalogue and library markings help them in their efforts, teaching them how to use the library. The game was designed by the Szablą i Piórem Foundation in cooperation with the Marshal of Małopolskie Voivodeship (as a part of the Małopolskie Czytanie programme) and the Krakow Festival Office, operator of the UNESCO City of Literature programme in Krakow.

The game has three difficulty levels, depicted on the ID card as stars. In the beginning, the player solves the first four mysteries, thus earning the first star, after which the difficulty of the following four puzzles increases. After completing all 12 of them, the player is given a Mystery Hunter badge. The mysteries concern various areas and disciplines, such as astronomy or zoology, and while solving them, the reader explores educational books on popular science, novels and legends, as well as fairy tales connected with a given field. This way the young players can learn while still having fun.

During their investigation, the players will “meet” fictional detectives such as Pan Samochodzik and Marek Piegus, who will teach them their methods and pass on their knowledge. Those books are marked, so that they stand out from the rest. The players are bound by a special detective’s code of conduct, which was designed to teach children how to behave in a library in an unconventional way. The rules tell them to be quiet and return every book to its proper place, thanks to which the librarians will not have to supervise the game throughout its duration.

The main goal of the game is to make children realise that books are a potent source of knowledge and answers to many of their questions, as well as to encourage them to read and to return to the books that they used during the game.

The game was designed for teams or individual 10-14 year-old players, however, the minimum and maximum ages are flexible, depending on the aptitude of the participants. The game is free, and can be played every day during opening hours of the libraries, without earlier registration or reservation.

Libraries participating in the game:

A test of the game was conducted in Wrocław in 2013. This year, the full version of the game (12 mysteries + groups) was launched in four branches of public libraries in Krakow:

  • Nowohucka (Branch no. 8 – Bohaterów Września 26),
  • Podgórska (Branch no. 13 – Powroźnicza 2),
  • Śródmiejska (Branch no. 16 – Al. Pokoju 33 ),
  • Krowoderska (Main Library – Królewska 59).

The Mystery Hunters game is an element of UNESCO Krakow City of Literature programme. The goal of the game is broadening the offerings of public libraries directed at the youngest readers and promoting readership among children, as well as inspiring librarians to look for and employ creative and innovative tools, combining education and entertainment. The project was prepared by Hanna Tucznio, Iwona Tucznio, Bianka Lesik, Barbara Mioduszewska and the author of the game’s concept – Zuzanna Wollny.

Join us!

The Second Life of a Book keeps growing. Last year, nearly 3500 Cracovians swapped 16000 books, which makes the previous edition of the campaign largest to date.

In 2016, just like in the previous years, we’ve prepared a year-long programme of meetings as part of the Second Life of a Book. This year, there will be 15 book exchanges! The main meeting place will, as usual, be the Tourist Service Centre, where once a month, we will swap books; however, we’ve also prepared a few surprises for you.

Our programme could not exist without special editions: the first will take place in March, at the French Institute, as part of Francophonie Month. We will also meet in special circumstances at the Voivodeship Public Library during the Małopolska Book Days, and at the MOCAK (Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow) on the 31st of July. Special editions will also be held during the Miłosz Festival, the Conrad Festival and the Book Fair, during which readers will be able to take advantage of our Book Crossing shelves, which will be available to them during the literary events. When using the shelves, we apply the 1:1 rule – for every book taken, we leave one of our own.

The rules of participation in the Second Life of a Book exchanges are simple: bring at least one book (and ten at the most). Important: the books should be in good condition. Books published before 1995 can be exchanged only for other books published before 1995. Participants who bring new books (published after 1995) can select any books they want, both from the new and older volumes. Join the exchange!

With the New Year, we often force ourselves to go on diets, we swear that we’ll join a gym, learn a new language or find the love of our life. January is the perfect time to start something new. If you’re still not sure what your goal for 2016 will be, why not make it books? Keeping this resolution will be child’s play, thanks to LiteraTURA. In January, join us for this year’s first free book exchange as part of the Second Life of a Book campaign, the first text battle in history, a winter meeting with Ziemowit Szczerek and a magical night at the library. Among locations opening their doors will be ArtCafe Barakah, Klub Kabaret, Bomba na Placu, MOCAK and the Śródmieście Public Library in Kraków. Traditionally, entry to all the events will be free, with the exception of the Winter Holidays at MCC (Ferie w MCK) programme meetings, which cost 10 PLN per child.

Selected events:
• ArtCafe Barakah, 7 January 2016, 8 PM
The first text battle – an event full of metaphorical roundhouses, poetic karate kicks and ninja-style dodges. All participants and their own texts will go head-to-head with their opponents and try to go for a creative knockout. The winner will gain the glory that they’ll carry for an entire month. After that time, they will have to enter the ring again to defend their championship title.
• Klub Kabaret, 10 January 2016, 6 PM – 10 PM
Join us for Poetry and heresies 38: Debilio Kudenzo. As part of the cycle of meetings organised since September 2015, generations come together so the participants can learn from one another. The invited writers present their accomplishments in two parts – literary and musical, as well as theatrical.
• Bomba na Placu, 12 January 2016, 7 PM
A meeting with Ziemowit Szczerek, a Polish journalist, writer and translator. He will talk about his newest book, of which he writes: “This isn’t another book about the Maidan and about the war in Donbass. This is a journey through an emerging country. Sometimes post-apocalyptic, sometimes roaring with enthusiasm. It is an expedition to the hedges of the newest history of the ‘pro-Western’ and ‘pro-eastern’ Ukraine”.
• Cheder Cafe, 14 January 2016, 6 PM
A meeting with Weronika Murek and Dominika Słowik, authors of the most prominent literary debuts of 2015: a collection of psychedelic stories Uprawa roślin południowych metodą Miczurina [The Cultivation of Southern Plants Using Michurin’s Method] (Murek) and Atlas: Doppelganger, a trance-like, powerful story about how the common, dirty and cheap elements of a Silesian housing block estate from the time of Poland’s transformation metamorphose into the metaphysical and fantastical before our very eyes.
• MOCAK, 15 January 2016, 6 PM
A meeting focusing on the book Kino epoki nowofalowej [Cinema of the New Wave Era]. Taking part in the meeting will be prominent figures of Polish film studies: editors of the book and authors of some of the texts found in the book, including Tadeusz Lubelski, Iwona Sowińska and Jerzy Armata.

Check out the full schedule of literary events for January 2016! You can find it here.

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