Erasmus+ project DIAL – Dialogue in Adult Learning (2022-2024) explores dialogue as a key life skill that helps us collaborate effectively with others, build stronger connections within communities, and experience greater life satisfaction, since interacting with others is a significant part of our lives.
As part of our partnership collaboration, we also invited libraries to participate in the project as hosts of dialogue-based events. In this article we would like to present some of the events organised by the ambassadors of dialogue. The events were very well received by the visitors, and we are happy to point out that most of the events continue to live on also after the project has ended.
"With a Book to Freedom" at Šiška Library
The Ljubljana City Library has opened the doors of its Šiška Library branch to the reading group “With a Book to Freedom", led by librarian Maša Uran. The original aim was to organize reading sessions for those who have experienced imprisonment as former inmates. As stated in the invitation to the introductory meeting, “The reading sessions are intended for everyone carrying the burden of a difficult past, who wish to leave it behind and weave a new support network—one that is kind, compassionate, and understanding, free of judgment and stigma."
At the meetings, books serve as an invitation to conversation. Interest and discussion can be sparked by a short summary or an excerpt presented by the host, or even by the book’s title, the colour of its cover, the image on the front, or a single sentence that emerges from randomly flipping through its pages. Participants are free to join the discussion or simply listen and contribute as much as they feel comfortable.
Regular meetings take place once a week and attract up to 15 participants each time. Every session has a specific theme, such as: What does it mean to be happy, and what do I need to do to find happiness?; How important is family? Can family be replaced?; Being someone’s support, the one person I can rely on; War and the morality of killing; Swearing and profanity; and many more.
What matters most for the participants to engage in the conversation is the trust that grows within the group and the sense of safety, which is supported by a strong commitment to confidentiality. The reading sessions do not require any "homework" reading, but they do invite participants into the world of books— and most importantly, they foster dialogue.
Learning Slovenian through Dialogue at the Črnomelj Library
At the Črnomelj Library, as part of the DIAL project, an event was held for immigrants living in the local community. The library is also visited by children of immigrants, so in the library they strive to engage their parents as well. To this end, several events are organized throughout the year that contribute to social integration and the promotion of reading culture. Under the DIAL project, librarians Jožica Žunič and Bernarda Matkovič decided to organize a dialogue-based event on topics of interest specifically for a group of immigrants who meet in a Slovenian language course.
At the start of the event, they first discussed the participants' experiences with dialogue, what topics they would like to address, and what their expectations were regarding dialogue skills they would like to develop in the future.
After the introductory activities, which included a presentation on dialogue and its principles, the participants were divided into smaller groups to share their experiences and views on selected topics:
- Presentation of customs and culture from their country of origin
- Integration into a new environment and job search
- Integrating children into preschool and school
Naturally and spontaneously, like in a well-coordinated community, they ensured that the activities during the event ran smoothly, with children also being involved. On several occasions, the hosts even took on the role of babysitters. At the end of the meeting, during informal socializing and snacks, the participants shared their impressions of the event. The feedback was heartfelt and full of enthusiasm, and they also expressed a desire for more similar events to be organized at the library.
Monthly meetings “I Trust Myself” at the Škocjan Library
The regular monthly meetings “I Trust Myself”, aimed at pregnant women and mothers on maternity leave, are held at the Miran Jarc Library in Novo Mesto, specifically at the Škocjan Local Library, hosted by the head of the branch library, Zala Štamcar.
The period of preparation for motherhood and the first year with a baby is not always easy, despite the notions of "dream motherhood," said Zala Štamcar. When we type "pregnancy" or "baby" into Google’s image search, it usually shows happy, joyful faces of mothers and fathers, and even more content babies. However, the reality—when a few-month-old baby cries uncontrollably deep into the night, when exhaustion and fatigue take their toll, and when things don’t go smoothly—often presents a different picture. Zala Štamcar recognized an opportunity to make the local library a place that can offer a safe environment for meetings where different topics that matter to moms with newborn babies could come up—the joys and challenges of motherhood, experiences at giving birth, both small and large victories of the early days of motherhood, as well as setbacks in balancing the new role, caring for a newborn, and the changes in establishing family and personal life with a new family member.
The thematic meetings take place once a month. The starting topic is often just a prompt for what the participants truly want to discuss and share with others. Babies and toddlers are also welcome, as they add a sense of community to the meetings.
The overall impression of the meetings is best summed up by a statement from one of the regular participants: “Great socializing, we learn something new, we are involved in dialogue, and we realize that it’s important to listen to others as well.”
Karmen Šemrl and Bernarda Potočnik,
Co-creators of the DIAL project
Glotta Nova, Centre for New Knowledge
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