Publication: International Library Platform

Publication “International Library Platform for Education About the Holocaust”, produced in the frames of Terraforming’s Yehuda Bauer Grant-awarded project, focuses on unexplored and unutilized potential for engaging libraries in teaching and learning about the Holocaust in a new environment of digital transformation of museums and the culture of remembrance.

Publication "International Library Platform for Education About the Holocaust", Copyright: Terraforming 2019

Participants of the seminar at the National Library of Serbia in Belgrade, from left: Nevena Bajalica, Terraforming, RS; Paul Salmons, Independent curator and education consultant, UK; Monika Mazur-Rafał, Humanity in Action Foundation Poland, PL; Dr Vasilije Milnović, Belgrade University Library, RS; Biljana Albahari, National Library of Serbia, RS; Jan Erik Dubbelman, Anne Frank House, NL; Sandra Svetlica, Terraforming, RS; Dr Dragana Milunović, National Library of Serbia, RS; Dr Akim Jah, The Arolsen Archives, DE; Dr Robert Rozett, Yad Vashem, IL; Prof. Nevena Daković, University of Arts Belgrade, RS; Prof. Doyle Stevick, College of Education, University of South Carolina, US; Victor-Jan Vos, Europeana Foundation, EU; Dr Vera Mevorah, Terraforming associate, RS; Dr Werner Dreier, _erinnern.at_, AT; Olivia Kaiser, Vienna University Library, AT; Goran Sadikarijo, Holocaust Memorial Centre for the Jews of Macedonia, MK; Miško Stanišić, Terraforming, RS; Dr Marta Simo, Autonomous University of Barcelona, ES; Dr Milan Koljanin, Institute for Contemporary History in Belgrade, RS;

Involving librarians and library infrastructure

The idea of an international format that would serve to engage library infrastructure in teaching and learning about the Holocaust was developed after several years of Terraforming’s work with library networks in Serbia on promoting education about the Holocaust. During that time we explored various ways to straighten remembrance culture and enhance education about the Holocaust by involving librarians’ expertise, as well as the literature, Holocaust related records and other relevant collections available in libraries.

Unexplored and unutilized potential

We came to conclusion that there is an unexplored and unutilized potential for engaging libraries in teaching and learning about the Holocaust, particularly in a new environment of digital transformation of museums and the culture of remembrance. We realised that existing teacher-training infrastructure need to be adjusted to open for other multipliers, such as librarians and archivists, in order to prepare them for a new active role in education about the Holocaust while utilizing their specific expertise, organizational structures and facilities, and Holocaust related material they have access to.

Broad international cooperation

With aim to create a contextual framework for such a collaborative platform, and to propose this new strategy to important international stakeholders, Terraforming partnered with Europeana, the Anne Frank House, the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia, and the National Library of Serbia, and developed the project “International Library Platform for Education About the Holocaust”. In addition, the Arolsen Archives, Yad Vashem, Erinnern.at, Vienna University Library, Foundation Humanity in Action, Historical Archive of the City of Novi Sad, University Library of Belgrade, as well as independent experts, played very important roles and made significant contributions to the project. The project was supported by International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRA, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, The National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

A summary of discussions and idea exchanges

In this publication we present the concept in the form of a summary of discussions and idea exchanges between librarians, archivists, teachers, historians, experts, representatives of the Jewish communities and other stakeholders, collected during the meetings, seminars and exchanges arranged in the frames of the project, in particular during the concluding international seminar at the National Library of Serbia in Belgrade.

The aim of this publication is not to offer all the answers. There are many questions and challenges that still need to be addressed. But, I am proud to say that after we discussed it, many world renowned experts are intrigued and excited about the potentials the International Library Platform for Education About the Holocaust presents.

The project was awarded Yehuda Bauer grant by International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRA.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who supported and contributed to this work.

Available for free download

Please click on the link below to download the PDF.

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In the publication, among others:

We can use libraries to challenge what we think we know, to extend what we know, to do original research, to become knowledge producers and to recognize that knowledge isn’t just something that comes from other sources. It’s things we can learn ourselves. Much of history is erased, and has been erased on purpose. These are things we can recover together through libraries, through archives, in a powerful way that lets us get to know our communities and that helps us fight the trends of denial and distortion.

Prof. Dr Doyle Stevick
Associate Professor, University of South Carolina,
Educational Leadership and Policies, College of Education.
Director, Anne Frank Partnership.

That is the great thing about ex libris. I think it is one of the things that makes books as artifacts often more special than paintings because there are so many personal hints and insights and intimate ideas that surrounds it. This could be a starting point for putting the story in the context of history, starting point for discussion. For instance, it could be connected to telling the history of the Jewish community before 1933. It could be connected to persecution, destruction, to Shoah. It could be connected to history of the looting and also to the restitution, to culture of remembrance and much more.

Olivia Kaiser
Member of the Provenance Research team of Vienna University Library.

Engaging libraries and literature in teaching about the Holocaust could be very significant. Libraries hold historical and cultural information which could contribute to better understanding of the roots of this European genocide. Surely to understand the Holocaust we need to understand the flaws in the European society, the dimensions of the European society that created the Holocaust, echoes of which you will find within European artwork and European literature and European cultural products.

Paul Salmons
Education & museum consultant.
Curator of “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.”
Formerly, Programme Director at the Centre for Holocaust Education at University College London. His website: www.paulsalmons.associates

Introduction
The genesis of an idea
Project activities

1. Unexplored and unutilized potentials of library infrastructure in teaching and learning about the Holocaust
1.1 Library = Education – Library as center for teaching and learning about the Holocaust
1.2 Literature as starting point for teaching about the Holocaust
1.3 Book as source of knowledge and artifact of the Holocaust
1.4 Libraries and social challenges

Interview: Dr Robert Rozett – We must keep redefining the role of libraries and keep learning

2. Engaging the library
2.1 New resources for education about the Holocaust
2.2 New media / New library

Interview: Prof. Doyle Stevick – Open-ended styles of research and education

3. New opportunities in international cooperation
3.1 Future of education about the Holocaust
3.2 New networks between librarians, archivists and teachers

Interview: Paul Salmons – What kind of Holocaust education do we need?

4. Vision of a future international library platform for education about the Holocaust
4.1 International dimension and its value for education about the Holocaust

Interview: Victor Jan Vos – A platform that provides access to 53 million records
Interview: Biljana Albahari – Now we work as a network

…and for the end, about one common misunderstanding

Terraforming 2019

Professor Yehuda Bauer with Nevena Bajalica and Misko Stanisic of Terraforming

IHRA Honorary Chairman, Prof. Yehuda Bauer with Nevena Bajalica and Misko Stanisic of Terraforming

The project “International Library Platform for Education about the Holocaust” is awarded the Yehuda Bauer Grant by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRA.

IHRA awards this honor annually to an outstanding project proposal submitted through IHRA’s Grant Programme. The recipient of the Yehuda Bauer Grant is selected by the Funding Review Committee from among all proposals recommended to IHRA’s member country delegations for funding.

In light of its excellent quality, its highly multilateral dimension and efforts to establish an international cooperation using existing infrastructure among a rarely targeted group, it was decided to award this project with the Yehuda Bauer Grant in 2016

– the IHRA Funding Review Committee