Community and parish library Benediktbeuern: A balance sheet

Created: 01/22/2022, 15:00

The radio plays, which can be played with the Tonie-Box, are popular with children, as Christine Trischberger says.

SN Stress due to changing requirements Novels and young adult books most in demand © SN

Christine Trischberger draws a balance for the community and parish library in Benediktbeuern.

Benediktbeuern

- "The past year was exhausting, but also nice - because we are a good team and have survived the time well." That's how gratifying the balance of the Corona year 2021, which Christine Trischberger draws.

She is part of the three-man management team of the community and parish library in Benediktbeuern and works here, like all the other colleagues, free of charge.

A total of 15 volunteers run the library.

A ten-week closure at the beginning of the year also had to be endured in Benediktbeuern.

"From January 23, we then offered a contactless service," explains Trischberger.

“Books could be ordered by telephone, e-mail or on a note in our mailbox.

With 24 hours' notice, the order was handed over at the door at the agreed time."

Hamster books – instead of toilet paper

The 2G rule now applies, as elsewhere, and there is no limit to the number of people. "Our readers are very disciplined across the board: keep your distance, wear a mask - no problem at all," reports Trischberger. She emphasizes again that students up to the age of twelve years and three months do not yet have to show proof of vaccination or recovery. "In addition, they are also tested regularly at school." What has made the past few months very exhausting, however, are the frequently changing specifications and the short time that was left for their implementation. "Updating the homepage, writing new signage, new notices, informing the press about it": All of this was added to the actual work for the volunteer team again and again.

The number of loans dropped significantly last year to 16,589 compared to the pre-corona period, but the number of users has increased.

"We were able to record 125 new registrations," says Trischberger with noticeable joy.

She can also break down the total number of active users: children up to the age of twelve make up the lion's share, that is 342. Among the 13 to 59 year olds there are 216 users, among the over 60 year olds there are 47. Of the total of 605 reading friends 125 newcomers is indeed a remarkable number.

Trischberger also noticed an increased interest in books in two school classes who recently visited again for the first time.

“Some of the children came back straight away to borrow.”

Stress due to changing specifications

During the year, the library acquired 628 new media.

Books are still the most frequently borrowed books, with novels and young adult books being the most popular.

Then come the CDs and DVDs, and finally the games.

Magazines are also on offer.

And there is an absolute hit: "The 'Bike' is a hit, especially with our male users," explains Trischberger.

And the children in Benediktbeuern are following the same trend as in the other libraries around: "Children love the Tonie figures!" The Tonie box that goes with it can be borrowed here for a deposit;

many of them already have them at home in the children's room anyway.

If you place the figure on the cube, it starts the radio play that matches it.

Operation is literally child's play.

Novels and young adult books most in demand

The preference for thrillers has increased among adults. "Arno Strobel's books were in great demand," explains Trischberger. She noticed one special feature in 2021: "People really hoarded the books, so they took a lot more with them per visit than before." Of course, the specialist also has a reading tip ready. For children, she recommends "The Green Pirates" by Andrea Poßberg and Corinna Böckmann. In this series, five friends, three boys and two girls, uncover environmental sins. “And there are always tricky situations. It's exciting and well written.” She recommends “Frost”, a thriller by Swedish author Ragnar Jónasson, to adult readers: “Decades ago, a murder happened in a sanatorium. At that time, the investigation was slowed down.The case is now being reopened. It's so exciting that you can't put it down..." (SABINE NÄHER)

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