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

Märkmed: