Επιστολή στον Δήμαρχο Σκοπέλου, την οποία κοινοποιεί στο sporadesnews.gr έστειλε η κα Thea Montandon οποία αναφέρει την συνάντηση μαζί του το 2019 για τη δημιουργία βιβλιοθήκης.
Η κα Montandon γράφει μεταξύ άλλων:
Αξιότιμε Δήμαρχε,
Το 2019 συναντήθηκα μαζί σας και δηλώσατε ότι επενδύετε στη δημιουργία μιας δημόσιας βιβλιοθήκης στο κτίριο στην παραλία που δωρήθηκε από τον κ. Μελαχρoινό. Έχω δει τη θαυμάσια δουλειά σας στις υποδομές του νησιού και τις αρχές των ανακαινίσεων στο κτίριο, αλλά αναρωτιέμαι πού βρίσκεται τώρα…
Τα κύρια σημεία της επιστολή της κας Montandon, την οποία μπορείτε να διαβάσετε παρακάτω ολόκληρη στην αγγλική γλώσσα, είναι:
• Η κ. Montandon αναφέρεται στην ιστορία του κτιρίου και πώς ο κ. Μελαχροινός το προόριζε αποκλειστικά για βιβλιοθήκη. Οι δικαστικές διαμάχες για την ιδιοκτησία του κτιρίου καθυστέρησαν τη δημιουργία της βιβλιοθήκης για χρόνια.
- Η κα Montandon περιγράφει το όραμά της για μια σύγχρονη βιβλιοθήκη με αίθουσες συναντήσεων, εθελοντές, μόνιμο βιβλιοθηκάριο, υπολογιστές με δωρεάν internet, ψηφιακή βάση δεδομένων, σύνδεση με τη βιβλιοθήκη της Γλώσσας, ακόμα και ένα μικρό καφέ.
- Αναρωτιέται γιατί δεν υπάρχουν περισσότερες δημόσιες βιβλιοθήκες στην Ελλάδα, ειδικά όταν οι Έλληνες είναι μορφωμένοι και φιλαναγνώστες. Παραθέτει παραδείγματα από άλλες χώρες και τονίζει τη σημασία των βιβλιοθηκών για τη δημοκρατία και την ισότητα.
- Περιγράφει την εμπειρία της από τη δημιουργία της βιβλιοθήκης στη Γλώσσα, τις δωρεές βιβλίων και υλικού, και τη δημιουργία ψηφιακής βάσης δεδομένων. Εκφράζει την απογοήτευσή της για τη μη υποστήριξη της βιβλιοθήκης και τη σπάνια χρήση της.
- Η κα Montandon εξηγεί τη βαθιά προσωπική της σύνδεση με τη Σκόπελο και πώς το νησί έχει γίνει το δεύτερο σπίτι της. Αυτή η σύνδεση είναι η κινητήριος δύναμη πίσω από την επιθυμία της να δημιουργηθεί μια ακμάζουσα βιβλιοθήκη στο νησί.
- Κλείνει την επιστολή της με μια έκκληση προς τον Δήμαρχο να απαντήσει σχετικά με την πρόοδο του έργου της βιβλιοθήκης και να εκφράσει την υποστήριξή του
Η επιστολή έχει ως εξής:
Mr. Mayor,
In 2019 I met with you and you stated you were invested in creating a public library in the building on the paralía donated by Mr. Melochrinou. I have seen your wonderful work on the infrastructure of the island and the beginnings of renovations to the building, but wonder where it stands now.
Many years ago, a native Skopelitan, Mr. Melochrinou in Athens, heard about our work in Glossa and telephoned me after we created the Glossa library. Would I consider helping create a library in the Chora in a building he owned on the paralía? I promised I would do what I could. He stated in his will that the building was only to be used for a library. After he died, the then-municipality sued and contested the will and continued for many years to benefit from rental payments from a family on the top floors, and a retail store below. Only in the last few years has his family won the suit, and has construction begun on a new library. Over the years I spoke often with George Michali and many others to discuss creating a library in the Melochriou building with meeting rooms for charities, classes, and homework, a cadre of volunteers, a permanent position for an onsite librarian, banks of computers with free internet access, an online database, and a connection to the Glossa Library; even possibly a small cafe on the balcony.
For who? For the children and future generations, for foreign and domestic visitors, for the elderly, for refugees, for the poor and the entrepreneurs, for everyone.
Greeks are sophisticated, well-educated and cultured people with one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Most are avid readers who speak and read Greek, English, and at least one other language. Many have large private home libraries. Why don’t the Greeks have more public libraries? More and more free libraries are being created in other parts of Greece, why not Skopelos? After the first of my many trips to Greece, I researched this question. Free public libraries are the heart of every tiny town and sprawling city in America, and represent the best of democracy and the most equitable, diverse, and inclusive institution possible anywhere. Never has there been a more important time to know the options for a better life, a better world.
Only by knowing what’s possible can Greeks choose which of their traditions to support and which innovations to embrace.
I have lived in Greece as often as possible over thirty years. I have lectured and translated for the Philosophy Department at the University of Athens, participated in the Panhellenic Public Library Conference in Athens, and advised The International Women of Attica on their support of more public library systems. On my first visit to Skopelos in 1995, I needed more books to read than the ones I brought with me. I found newsstands with best sellers in many languages, but no bookstores and no libraries! Friends in Athens sent me books, but I became curious; how can there be intelligent and sophisticated people without free access to the treasures of the world? I began shipping canvas bags of books to donate to Mrs. Germanos for the local high school library. My friends, the Kritsalos family, George Michelis, and others were interested in creating a small public library in the village of Glossa, both for residents and for returning visitors. I asked friends here and in Greece to donate books and materials, and many responded. The Glossa municipality prepared a room in the center, the church, visitors, and residents donated books, and we formed the Glossa/Skopelos Public Library. The Meher Schools, where I was the librarian for 35 years, donated four laptop computers, and we began creating an online database of the Glossa/Skopelos Public Library collection. I arranged for regular donations of books from EKEBI, the national book center representing all the publishers in Greece, and with the National Public Library in Athens. I offered to write grants to the EU and to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
I understand the library is not currently supported by the municipality or Glossa residents, is rarely used except as a meeting room, and there is no one in the center to check books in and out. Where are the smart and active members of the community who support and understand the importance of a free library?
Why am I interested?
In 1995 a Friend suggested that I needed more “zip” in my life, and told me his mother thought the Aegean Sea the most refreshing place in the world. This suggestion was exceptionally appropriate for me since I was raised among Greek Americans and had always dreamed of traveling there. I chose an island reachable only by ferry, Skopelos, a mere forty square miles in area, with a year-round population of around 5000, and three times that during the summer months. The Island turned out to be representative of the best of Greek culture, with a warm, welcoming local population. I met my Greek family there, and knew I was in the right place when I learned that the birthday of the patron saint of the Island, Bishop Reginas the Dragon Slayer, was February 25, the birthday of my Godfather. The Island reminds me of the small California village of pine trees and beautiful beaches where I grew up, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and its coasts are very like Big Sur. Skopelos has become my second home.
Looking forward to your response,
Respectfully yours,
Thea Montandon
