THE MAGIC STORY CABINET

 

At CUDV Dobrna we are proud to have a real school library. It offers more than 4,000 books and other materials to both users and staff. We have a very rich collection of professional literature, which we regularly update with new titles relevant to our diverse fields of work. The National Month of Shared Reading began on September 8th, which also marks International Literacy Day. Since the vast majority of our users are not able to read independently, shared reading sessions and story hours are all the more important here. For many years, our students have also taken part in the national reading badge program. We also place great emphasis on easy-to-read materials—information written in language that is easier to understand.

As part of the Erasmus+ CLENA project: Raising Climate Change and Sustainable Environmental Awareness for Children with Special Education Needs, we successfully transferred good practice we observed from our Turkish partners. They introduced us to an outstanding example of using small book houses placed outdoors in Ormanya Park. This unique concept involves installing small, colorful houses filled with books in a forest environment, encouraging visitors to enjoy reading in nature.

Ormanya Park is a natural park located in Türkiye, in Kocaeli Province, about 20 kilometers southeast of the city of Izmit. It is a large natural area that offers visitors opportunities to relax in nature and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. Ormanya is known for its rich flora and fauna, encompassing forest ecosystems, wetlands, and meadows. One of its most recognizable features is the extensive forest area, ideal for walks, hiking, and exploring nature. The park also includes themed trails, such as the book house project, which combines reading and nature, giving the park its unique charm. Books are available in small houses placed along the paths so visitors can enjoy reading while walking. The houses are designed to blend into the natural environment, providing peace and tranquility in the forest.

Because of the positive experience we had with this project in Türkiye, we decided to adapt this good practice to our own local context.

As part of the project, we combined two innovative ideas: the Turkish concept of book houses from Ormanya Park and the Slovenian concept of knjigobežnice—“book-crossing houses” placed at various locations across Slovenia. The concept of knjigobežnice is an innovative way to promote book exchange and reading culture. These are simple, public facilities where people can freely leave or take books. Usually located in accessible places, their purpose is to encourage the exchange and reuse of books, increase access to literature, and promote reading regardless of economic or social barriers. Beyond their practical function, knjigobežnice also have a social role—connecting people through books and enabling the exchange of ideas, stories, and thoughts. The idea often follows the principle “take a book – give a book.” Widely embraced in many countries around the world, these small libraries are an excellent way to involve the broader community in cultural and educational activities, and they provide access to books in nature or in less accessible areas.

At the beginning of this school year, we too joined the knjigobežnica community. In our woodworking workshop, two beautiful wooden houses were created. Since the word knjigobežnica is difficult for many to pronounce, we named our houses The Magic Story Cabinet. Under the guidance of our art teacher Azra, the students painted and weatherproofed the houses. With the help of our caretakers, the houses were set up on the lawn next to the Center. Our eager readers, supported by the librarian, selected books and placed them inside. Now, the two magical story cabinets hold a wide range of content and await visitors eager for knowledge.

In this way, we have created a space where nature and the culture of reading intertwine. We promote reading and access to literature while also allowing visitors to connect with nature, just as we observed with our Turkish partners.

Urška Perko, Librarian

Simon Krajnc, Member of the Erasmus+ CLENA Project

Team