Links of Books and Plants: Small Garden Library
The Local Challenge
Breza, a small mining town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been shaped for decades by coal mining, which defined its economic and socio-cultural identity. With the global energy transition moving away from fossil fuels, the community faces not only economic transformation but also profound cultural and social change.
Residents are beginning to experience challenges brought by this shift, yet discussions around the future remain limited and fragmented. There is an urgent need for initiatives that raise awareness, build resilience, and provide opportunities for residents to learn about sustainability, ecology, and biodiversity in practical and inclusive ways.
The Initiative
This initiative transforms the garden of the “Muhamed Kantardžić” Public Library in Breza into an educational and community space that integrates theoretical and practical learning on ecology, sustainability, and biodiversity. Designed according to permaculture principles and using indigenous plants, the garden becomes a site for hands-on activities such as planting, composting, ecological product-making, and creating habitats for birds and insects. These are complemented by workshops, lectures, film screenings, and discussions on climate change and sustainable living. Local schools use the garden for classes and extracurricular activities, while volunteers and residents contribute to maintaining and shaping the space. Through this, the library expands its role from a place of reading to a hub for active, collective learning and environmental stewardship.
What’s Next?
The initiative hopes to foster long-term community engagement in environmental education and practice, with a particular focus on students, educators, and volunteers. Over time, the library garden can serve as a replicable model for other public spaces, demonstrating how libraries can anchor sustainability initiatives, strengthen social cohesion, and help communities navigate the cultural and economic challenges of the energy transition.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
