Europeana 1914-1918: Collection and digitization of items and stories from the 1st World War in VERIA

June 2014: 2014 marks the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and Europeana, the digital library of Europe has started an ambitious project aiming to collect, digitize and make public untold stories, objects and memorabilia that reveal different aspects of the tragedy that affected millions of lives in Europe.

The project is called Europeana1914-1918 and has so far collected more than 60,000 photographs, digitized postcards and diaries from the First World War, 10,000 stories and 400,000 objects from various national collections that can all be found at www.europeana1914-1918.eu

Greece also participates in this project and the Central Public Library of Veria will have a collection day on 27 and 28 June.

Everyone who wishes to contribute to the project with a story or object can bring them to the Central Public Library of Veria on 27 and 28 June 2014 from 08:30 a.m. to 14:30 p.m. Experts will be there to collect your stories and/or objects, digitize them and return them to you on the same day.

Alternatively, you can photograph or scan the objects, letters, diaries etc. yourself and upload them at www.europeana1914-1918.eu following the guidelines.

In Athens a significant number of people brought photographs, postcards, memorabilia and the story behind each one of them. Mr. Michael Tsirimpas, son of Dimitris Tsirimpas brought his father’s military tag, a wooden crucifix and a medallion with his father’s photograph enclosed, items that the soldier always kept with him at the front.

Mrs. Eleana Vlachou told us the love story of her family that took place during the war. She had six photographs from the wedding of her mother, Perdika Danae Karousou, to the Serb officer Tihomir Stoyanovic. The wedding took place in Corfu, the birthplace of Mrs. Karousou, but soon the family had to leave because of the war never to meet again since Tihomir Stoyanovic died early at the age of 38.

The war also had a huge impact on the everyday life of the Greeks that didn’t go to the front. Therefore, everyone can contribute with an untold story or an item that pictures Greece of the period 1914-1918 even if it has nothing to do with the war.

For more information about the program visit www.europeana1914-1918.eu.

THE PEOPLE OF VERIA SUPPORT THEIR PUBLIC LIBRARY: According to the annual activity report of 2013

A few days ago the annual activity report of the Public Library of Veria was released. It is a detailed booklet with a lot of pictures and figures describing everything that took place in our Library in 2013.

Three years after the reception of the “Access to Knowledge Award 2010” by the “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation” we are happy to notice that our Library continues its dynamic, ascending way that was the vision of our previous director Mr. Ioannis Trochopoulos who is now Executive Director of the Cultural Center of Stavros Niarchos Foundation. We have developed new services, new cooperations, international presence in the domain of libraries, always aiming to the best service of our users.

Some points that need to be stressed:

• The Library lent 180.449 items in 2013 (books, magazines, dvds, music cds, etc.) proving that beyond numbers and statistics… people in Veria read a lot.
• The Library has a collection of 100,000 items in print and audiovisual form (books, magazines, dvds, music cds, kindles, postcards, rare photographs, rare documents and manuscripts, board games etc.) and the number is growing day by day with new sources of information (pressdisplay, ElibraryUSA etc.)
• The Library’s members reached a total of 28.837, meaning that the 61% of the population of Veria are users of the Library!
• The Library has launched new social services to support its users (we help them fill in all kinds of e-applications, e.g. for the heating allowance, the printing of the road tax etc.)

Stavros Niarchos Foundation is for the 3^rd consecutive year the major donor of our Library. It has sponsored our educational programs, the updating of our technical equipment, the enrichment of our book collection, our subscriptions to electronic databases and the development of new services.

In the booklet it is underlined that we need to find new financial resources for our Library since the state funds are constantly reducing. We are addressing a call to our fellow-citizens to help us in this effort.

Take a look at the annual report of the Library. We are waiting for all of you at the Central Public Library of Veria, 8 Ellis St., at the city center, to listen to your suggestions and work together in order to experiment and design together the library of the future that can make our life better.

May at the Public Library of Veria

The Public Library of Veria celebrates Mother’s Day (11 May), International Museum Day (18 May) and invites you to participate in book readings, artistic workshops, film screenings, origami and scrabble lessons. Come along! We are waiting for you…

Activities for children

Wednesday 7 May, 4.00-5.00 p.m.
Celebrate Mother’s Day! Our emotions become a little present with our warmest wishes and we give it to our Mothers who celebrate their day!!! Handcraft Workshop. For 4-6-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Wednesday 7 May, 5.30-6.30 p.m.
I love you Mom! Our emotions become a little present with our warmest wishes and we give it to our Mothers who celebrate their day!!! Handcraft Workshop. For 7-9-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.   

Monday 12 May, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
Little Picasso! Let’s become little painters. All you need is your imagination. No skills required, ideal for starters. For 8-10-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Tuesday 13 May 4.00-7.00 a.m., (one meeting)
What do you know about competitive Scrabble? Veria Scrabble Club invites you meet Scrabble, the most famous word game in the world. Start playing now. The workshops are for everyone, adults and children over 8 years old. Registration required. 

Wednesday 14 May, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
Origami, the  art of paper folding
Dimitris Dalas, author of the book “Origami: the art of paper” teaches us the secrets of this famous ancient Japanese technique. For 8-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Ceremony Hall of the Library. 

Saturday 17 Μαΐου, 10.30 a.m.
CINEMA FOR CHILDREN: Night at the Museum (103′).
The American Corner of our Library celebrates International Museum Day and invites you to watch “Night at the Museum”. The movie describes the adventures of Larry (Ben Stiller) who works as night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York. Admission Free. At the Ceremony Hall of the Library. 

Saturday 17 May, 12.00
The Public Library of Veria in collaboration with “Diaplous” Editions invite you to the oresentation of three books for children. There will be games with dramatic improvisation and a lot of surprises! Admission Free. At the Ceremony Hall of the Library.

Saturday 24 Μαΐου, 10.30 a.m.
CINEMA FOR CHILDREN: Night at the Museum 2 (105′).
The American Corner of our Library celebrates International Museum Day and invites you to watch “Night at the Museum 2”. The movie describes the adventures of Larry (Ben Stiller) who works as night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York. Admission Free. At the Ceremony Hall of the Library. 

Monday 26 May, 4.00-5.00 p.m.
Bugs! In the books of the Library we can find lots of bugs. Let’s discover their color and sound and see which of them are useful and which are disturbing. For 5-7-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Tuesday 27 May, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
Skies or Constellations and Mythology… Do you know there 88 constellations in the sky and that some of them never set? What is Leo, Aquarius, Cassiopeia, Orion? Let’s learn all about these by the artist Pavlos Vassiliadis. In this workshop we will make our own constellations and put them on display at the Library. For 10-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 28 May, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
Little Van Gogh! Let’s meet the famous artist and his technique and try to make our own painting. For 4-6-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Saturday 31 May 11.00-13.00 a.m., (one meeting)
What do you know about competitive Scrabble? Veria Scrabble Club invites you meet Scrabble, the most famous word game in the world. Start playing now. The workshops are for everyone, adults and children over 8 years old. Registration required. 

Activities for Adults

Monday 12 May, 6.30-7.30 p.m.
Discover the Picasso that is hidden inside you! Let’s become great painters with simple materials and a lot of imagination. No skills required. Ideal for starters. For Adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Tuesday 13 May 4.00-7.00 a.m., (one meeting)
What do you know about competitive Scrabble? Veria Scrabble Club invites you meet Scrabble, the most famous word game in the world. Start playing now. The workshops are for everyone, adults and children over 8 years old. Registration required. 

Wednesday 14 May, 6.30-7.30 p.m.
Origami, the  art of paper folding
Dimitris Dalas, author of the book “Origami: the art of paper” teaches us the secrets of this famous ancient Japanese technique. For adults. Registration required. At the Ceremony Hall of the Library. 

Saturday 31 May 11.00-13.00 a.m., (one meeting)
What do you know about competitive Scrabble? Veria Scrabble Club invites you meet Scrabble, the most famous word game in the world. Start playing now. The workshops are for everyone, adults and children over 8 years old. Registration required.

Michalis Gkanas talks about his retrospective edition “Poems 1978-2012” at the Public Library of Veria

The Language Teachers’ Union, the Central Public Library of Veria and “Melani” Editions invite you to the ceremony hall of the Library on Saturday 5 April 2014, at 12:00, to attend to the presentation of the retrospective edition of Michalis Gkanas’s “Poems 1978-2012”
The book will be presented by the poet and literary critic Thanasis Markopoulos and the author himself while the panel will be coordinated by the President of the Language Teachers’ Union, Evgenia Kavalari.

A few words about Michalis Gkanas

He was born in 1944 at Tsamantas in Thesprotia. In 1948, during the civil war, he moves to Albania and then Hungary along with his family. He came back to Greece in 1954. The chronicle of this adventure is described in his narrative Mitria Patrida (Step Homeland), 1981. In 1962 he goes to Athens to study Law but he never finished his studies. He worked as a bookseller for fifteen years and later as a literary editor for the national television for which he also wrote screenplays. From 1989 to his retirement in 2005 he wrote scenarios for and advertising agency.

            His poems have been translated in many languages while his lyrics have been used by the most famous Greek composers. He has also translated ancient Greek plays and has received some of the most important literary awards.

Easter and Spring Activities At the Public Library!

Our Library is preparing for Easter and celebrates the International Children’s Book day. Activities for kids and adults, crafts, painting, story-telling, robotics. Register now and tell your friends and parents.

Activities for kids

Tuesday 1 April, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
The Magic corner!
For 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Wednesday 2 April, 5.00, 5.30, 6.00, 6.30 p.m.
Fairy tale Marathon
Younger or older come listen to your favorite fairy tale in order to celebrate the International Children’s Book day. (Every half hour there will be a reading of a new story so be punctual). For kids of all ages. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 2 April, 6.00 p.m.
Young Readers
Pupils of the 5^th grade of the 14^th Elementary School of Veria and their teacher Giorgia Triantafyllidou present their educational program “Young Readers” in a different way. At the ceremony hall on the 2^nd floor of the Library. Free Admission.

Saturday 5 April, 10.30-11.30 a.m.
Easter Painting
In the heart of Spring, waiting for Easter, come to the Library to discover the artist within you and create paintings and wish cards. With the artist-designer Vasiliki Sidiropoulou-Karamitsou. For 6-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Monday 7 April, 4.00-5.00 p.m.
Easter wish cards with waste material
Let’s make beautiful Easter wish cards with waste material that can be found everywhere. For 7-9-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Tuesday 8 April, 4.00-5.00 p.m.
Dough Dolls
We will learn about the life of Lazarus and make decorative dough dolls. For 6-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 9 April, 5.30-6.30 p.m.
Easter Baskets
Bring along a small basket and we will decorate it together with all sorts of things. With Georgia Tseou. For 7-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Monday 14 Απριλίου, 10.30-11.30 a.m.
Easter at Glykomilitsa
Let’s travel with the book’s hero – Antony – learn about Easter habits and make our own Easter basket. For 7-12-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Tuesday 15 April, 10.00-11.00 ή 11.00-12.00 a.m.
Decorate your candles
Bring your Easter candle and we will decorate it all together. For 6-14-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 16 April, 11.00-12.30 a.m.
Robotics Lab (LEGO WeDo) – (one meeting)
Get to know the magic world of robotics.
On the 2^nd floor of the Library. For 6-11-year–old kids. Registration required. 

Wednesday 16 April, 3:30-5:00 p.m
The Magic corner!
For 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Wednesday 16 April, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
Where did the eggs go?
Easter story starring Winnie the Pooh followed by a creative activity and finger-painting. For 2-3-year-old kids and an accompanying adult. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Tuesday 22 April, 11.00-12.30 a.m.
Robotics Lab (LEGO WeDo) – (one meeting)
Get to know the magic world of robotics.
On the 2^nd floor of the Library. For 6-11-year-old kids. Registration required.

Tuesday 22 April, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
The Magic corner!
For 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Wednesday 23 April, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
The Magic corner!
For 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Saturday 26 April, 11.00-12.30 a.m.
The forgotten red egg
What is a forgotten red egg doing in our Library? What has happened to it? Help us learn about it and create a story… With Athina Motsiopoulou and Despina Tsoraklidou. For 5-6-year-old kids. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Activities for Adults 

Tuesday 8 April, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
Decorative Easter eggs with yarn. – (one meeting)
Let’s make them together! Wear casual clothes in case you spill glue and bring along yarn in the colour of your choice.  For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Monday 14 April, 5.30-7.00 το απόγευμα
Decorative Easter eggs with yarn. – (one meeting)
Let’s make them together! Wear casual clothes in case you spill glue and bring along yarn in the colour of your choice.  For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

February at the Public Library of Veria| Activities Schedule

This February we invite you to the Public Library of Veria to read, create, change costumes, play but most importantly to meet, communicate and make the most of our daily routine. (Our Museum Educator: Anthi Chrisopoulou).

Activities for children

Monday 10 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.

The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 11 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.
The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 11 February, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
The carnival is here! Search our wardrobe, find your favourite costume and wear it! For children 3 to 4,5 years old and accompanying adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Tuesday 11 February. 6.30-7.30 p.m.
“This deer is mine”. What does the word “mine” mean when talking about a living creature… Story reading for children 6-8 years old. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library. 

Wednesday 12 February, 5.00-6.00 p.m.
The darkness is afraid of Nicholas. Story reading about our fears and how we can make them run away… For children 5-7 years old. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Saturday 15 February, 10.00-11.30 a.m.
Do you want to become a member of an Indian tribe? Try to pass the tests of the tribe leader in order to join them. Will you make it? We are waiting for you… With Athina Motsiopoulou and Despina Tsoraklidou. For children 5-7 years old. Registration required. At the 2^nd floor of the Library.

Monday 17 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.
The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 18 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.
The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 18 February, 5.30-6.30 p.m.
A lullaby for bears. Two bears in the human world… Story reading for children 4-6 years old. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 19 February, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
The alphabet of the carnival. Let’s fill our alphabet boxes with words and items relates to the carnival. For children of the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd grade of elementary school. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Monday 24 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.
The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 25 February, 3.30-5.00 p.m.
The Magic corner! Every Monday and Tuesday for 90 minutes the kid’s corner is full of books, toys, furry animals and is dedicated to the youngest of the Library’s friends. Come play on the grass and discover new surprises. Free activity supervised by the library staff. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For infants 1-2,5 years old. Without registration. At the Magic Boxes.

Tuesday 25 February, 5.30-6.30 p.m.
Carnival memo. Using our creations for the carnival alphabet we are making a carnival memo in order to play. For children 5-9 years old. Registration required. At the 2^nd floor of the Library.

Activitiesforadults

Monday 10 February, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
“Share your hobbies”: Decorate glasses with the art of decoupage. For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Monday 17 February, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
“Share your hobbies: knit poncho” (1^st meeting)
The participants must have basic knitting skills and bring along needles No 9-10 and three balls of their favourite thread or wool. With Rita Stigiannou. For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Monday 24 February, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
“Share your hobbies: knit poncho” (2^nd meeting)
The participants must have basic knitting skills and bring along needles No 9-10 and three balls of their favourite thread or wool. With Rita Stigiannou. For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

Wednesday 26 February, 5.30-7.00 p.m.
Flowers that will make you shine! Let’s make flowers for our hair or clothes using old clothes and beads. The participants should bring pieces of cloth and beads and a brooch base. For adults. Registration required. At the Magic Boxes of the Library.

The places for the creative activities are limited so book in time.

At the Public Library of Veria, 8 Ellis St. Tel 2331024494

The program of the creative activities is courtesy of Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.snf.org)