It is a demographic reality that many of our readers have encountered. With the inevitable passing of the older members of the first generation of Estonians abroad, those who fled the communist regime, and the aging of their children, the houses and libraries that were once a source of pride pose a problem. Many have needed to downsize their residences, or need extended care in nursing homes, where there is no room for many cultural acquisitions of a lifetime. Others pass on, and bequeath possessions, among them books, for which some of their offspring, born in Canada, reading little in the native language, have little use for, nor interest in.
Estonians hold literacy dear, and value the printed word. Books are a treasure, not to be bundled up and put on the curbside. It should be noted that since Estonia regained independence interest in books published by the Estonian community abroad, those works that did not need to fear Soviet censorship, has been high. Crates upon crates of books have been sent to Estonian small town libraries to satisfy this interest. The Tartu Institute, EERO and AKEN are to be lauded for their efforts; private individuals have also done their fair share. To date, though, no concerted effort has been made back home to amass as close to a complete collection of all books printed abroad, or in Välis-Eesti, as is the commonly used term these days for our community.
We've recently learned that there is an individual with the goal of collecting as many of these books as possible with such a goal in mind. Aivar Pohlak, a multi-faceted individual perhaps best known as the man who brought Estonian soccer back from the brink wishes to ensure that as complete a collection of Estonian language books published by the émigré community be gathered. Pohlak is interested in all books - not just those published by the two big literature houses, Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv and ORTO, familiar to many of us, thanks to their common size, dustjackets, and often never been perused look on grampa's shelves. Pohlak seeks publications from the smaller enterprises like Eesti Kirjastus Kanadas, and does not limit interest to fiction and translations. Memoirs, religious tomes, art books, poetry - all are sought. From the fiction, literature category works from the following authors are much in demand in Estonia: Aita Saal, August Mälk, Ain Kalmus and Arved Viirlaid. As might be expected, anything to do with the events of WW II are also of great interest.
Pohlak's assistant Kristi Aas will be visiting Toronto from October 17th until October 30th, and is hoping to contact people during that time who are interested in helping Pohlak's vision of a complete and respectable Välis-Eesti book collection housed in Estonia come true. As this is a sweeping dream all support, ideas and contributions will be gratefully acknowledged. Her contact person in Toronto is Aarne H. Vahtra who has already been sending such material back home for years.
If grandpa's library has been gathering dust and causing you concern, keeping the Rent-a-locker people in business, consider sending those Estonian language volumes to where they will be read, respected and enjoyed - to Estonia. Kristi Aas can be contacted through Aarne Vahtra for further information at 416 488-3637, e-mail
What to do with grandpa's library (6)
Archived Articles | 08 Oct 2004 | EL (Estonian Life)EWR
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I'm guessing here, for there are a lot of estos in Don Mills who would have libraries, but - it m ust have been on Cottonwood Drive that you saw those books? I believe that the reason for those books being there is that the lady living there, the second wife of a now deceased Estonian is not herself Estonian - Russian in fact, though that is not germane here, and the children that grew up in that house are either living in Estonia (fact), or not interested in those books (surmise). Saw a bunch there myself in July, picked up a couple, talked to the lady, and understood that she did not know what to do with them. The books were for the majority either children's books or propaganda, published during the Soviet occupation, did not see a single EKK or ORTO book there. Perhaps those were already handed over to the AKEN bazaar or some such. My read on the lady was that she thought those books were of little interest to anyone. Were there any books in that pile that were published in Välis Eesti? Just wondering. Good that you noticed, good that you "scavenged", books deserve a better fate than the dump!
......The good news is that nowadays it's possible to buy reprints of books once published in Canada or Sweden. If you've got a definite title in mind, then there's a likelihood of finding it here....poetry is a little harder to come by unfortunately. I know there was a concerted effort made years ago to send off personal librearies to Estonia, and a lot of small Estonian towns were recipient partners in these projects. However, it is worth doing a survey and getting an overview of what's what in Canada, so that priceless books don't get thrown away because of some outdated idea that future generations of Estonians won't be needing junk like this anymore!!
I was walking in the Don Mills area a month ago and saw a pile of Estonian books out on the curb, waiting for the recycling truck. Most were in poor condition, from the Soviet era, so I did not bother taking them home but I did find a very old book that I took.
I have heard of others who have thrown away books as well, usually they call some of the used bookstores and ask if the books are worth anything. Most stores have little room on their shelves and are not interested in Estonian books since they are afraid to be stuck with them. (The only store I know of that will buy them is the Highway Bookshop up in Cobalt, Northern Ontario) Then they are put out for the garbagemen or taken to the dump.
At the same time, people who are interested in Estonain books can not find them and they are very expensive to buy. Try ordering a book from Estonia or check out some of the prices on E-bay.
I have heard of others who have thrown away books as well, usually they call some of the used bookstores and ask if the books are worth anything. Most stores have little room on their shelves and are not interested in Estonian books since they are afraid to be stuck with them. (The only store I know of that will buy them is the Highway Bookshop up in Cobalt, Northern Ontario) Then they are put out for the garbagemen or taken to the dump.
At the same time, people who are interested in Estonain books can not find them and they are very expensive to buy. Try ordering a book from Estonia or check out some of the prices on E-bay.
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