A Library Whose Walls Did Not Become a Fence; The Brilliance of ‘Bisaran’ in the National Book Day Ceremony

IBNA Provincial Service – Sheno Nouri: Bisaran Village Library has been recognized as one of the active cultural centers in the region for years. This library is located in a mountainous village of Sarvabad; a place where geographical distances and limited facilities can make access to cultural programs difficult, but the librarians of this library have proven that with creativity and perseverance, geographical boundaries can be shifted.

One of the most important reasons for Bisaran Library’s selection is the range of activities conducted outside the library building. They do not limit reading promotion programs to shelves and reading rooms; from book-centered meetings with families in the village to organizing mobile reading sessions for students, activities in schools and mosques, and accompanying children in cultural and religious events are examples of services that have transformed this library from a small local institution into an influential cultural hub.

Bisaran Library has been repeatedly honored in previous years, and winning the top title in Book and Reading Week for the third consecutive year shows that this success is a continuous path and the result of the persistent efforts of librarians and the cooperation of local people. Every year, by offering creative programs, increasing the participation of children and families, and linking with schools and local institutions, this library has managed to solidify its position and serve as a successful model for other rural libraries in the province.

Nouri Shahabi, the head of the library, plays a very decisive role in this success. By launching the “Nomadic Reader of Bisaran” campaign, she has tried to keep children and families in touch with books and the library even during seasons when they are engaged in agricultural activities in their garden-houses. Nouri’s initiatives have increased the presence of children and teenagers in the library and strengthened family participation, and are considered one of the main pillars of the library’s continuous success.

Kurdistan province has shown in recent years that it is pursuing a clear and growing path in the field of books and reading. From Sanandaj becoming the “Book Capital” to the activities of small libraries in villages and border towns, we have repeatedly witnessed this province receiving national attention at various levels.

Bisaran Library winning the distinguished title is also a continuation of this trend; a trend that shows the successes of Kurdistan’s libraries are not accidental or temporary, but rather the result of continuous planning, the efforts of librarians, and the cooperation of local people.

The selection of Shahid Mullah Mohammad Zabihian Village Library is, more than anything, a reminder that a library is not defined solely by books, tables, and shelves; rather, it gains meaning through its connection with people and its presence in the fabric of daily life. Bisaran is an embodiment of this definition; a small point on the map of Kurdistan that, through continuous cultural activities, has registered itself on a national scale.

Bisaran is a green village located in the Sarvabad County of Kurdistan province, 41 kilometers from Sarvabad and 96 kilometers southwest of Sanandaj city (the provincial capital). Bisaran is known as the largest village in Kurdistan and is, in fact, a paradise with many capacities in all fields, and can be introduced as a hidden treasure in Kurdistan.

The Shahid Mullah Mohammad Zabihian Public Library of Bisaran is a rural library and one of the most influential social and cultural hubs within Bisaran village, inaugurated in 1997 on a 680 square meter land. It has separate sections for children and teenagers, as well as textbooks and reference books. Currently, this library has 800 active reading members and approximately 13,000 volumes of books on various subjects on its shelves.