Success story Book Bridge: Meckenheim and Alfter rely on reading promotion!

Success story Book Bridge: Meckenheim and Alfter rely on reading promotion!

In the small community of Meckenheim and Alfter, the new inter -municipal library - the "Book Bridge" - has had the first year with great success. Under the direction of Franzis Steinhauer, who has taken responsibility for both municipalities, the Rundschau attracts . This positive development is no coincidence. The committee chair Rainer Friedrich praised the work of Steinhauer, who started despite challenging conditions.

When the libraries were taken over, Steinhauer met sobering facts: 50,000 customer data had disappeared and an old media selection was ready, of which 30,000 copies due to their age are considered problematic. Nevertheless, the library has won new swing under Steinhauer's leadership. With a continuous offer that also includes the purchase of 80 tonie hearing characters for children, the "Book Bridge" is an attractive starting point for all age groups.

A new beginning for Alfter and Meckenheim

On December 18, 2023, the two municipalities came together and signed a contract for inter -municipal cooperation, which comes into force on January 1, 2024. This agreement ensures the continued existence of the library in Alfter and also enables the libraries to be promoted together. Mayor Dr. Schumacher emphasized the importance of this step and called on to be patient, because many steps are still imminent until the reopening. The book supports are still ready to support the library, while the financial equipment is regulated.

The "Book Bridge" has not only established itself as a place of reading, but also as part of the education system. Particular attention was paid to the reading skills of children, as this is perceived as inadequate in the region. Comprehensive programs that already focus on preschool children should help here.

plans for the future

The library is happy about planned exhibitions on topics such as the European elections and the "Day of the seafarer". Another highlight could be the "Book Search Gate" campaign, where donors have the opportunity to finance a book and to receive special rights. With the additional budget of 25,000 euros, new furniture for the library was procured, and the renovation of the children's library was successfully completed by the support of 18 volunteers.

The commitment to the library is also visible in the number of full -time forces: currently five employees are employed there on three jobs and two part -time staff per location. The operation of the "Book Bridge" currently runs 17 hours a week, with the goal of expanding to 20 hours. Steinhauer remains optimistic: "The library is a real added value for Meckenheim and Alfter," she says, and continues to work to improve the offers for the population.

Inter -municipal cooperation and fresh ideas offer an exciting perspective for the "book bridge". This first success story could continue to develop in the future, and residents can hope for a flourishing literary landscape. The Project "Hochdrei" The cultural foundation of the federal government also contributes to the development by driving on new impulses for public libraries.