The Library participated in the 5th Panhellenic Conference on Sociology of Education organized by the Department of Education and Social Work of the University of Patras in collaboration with the University of Ioannina on the theme “Education in a state of emergency: sociological readings”. The conference was held from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 October 2022 at the University of Patras.
The title of the Library’s presentation was: “Literary journeys without borders: the Penitentiary Reading Club of Trikala”. This is a program carried out in collaboration with the Trikala Penitentiary and the Second Chance School during the years 2021-2022. At the conference, the results of the research, which was carried out using a structured questionnaire to the members of the Club, were presented, aiming on studying whether and to what extent the program causes opportunities for self-reflection, if it has any effect on the psychological state of the prisoners and how they interact with each other as a group.
After participating in the Book Club the members adopted a more positive outlook in the way they act and think. Through discussions with the authors of the books, they discovered new aspects of themselves, their mood improved, their desire to read strengthened, while at the same time their self-confidence and self-esteem were boosted. Reading as a constructive way of passing time, reduced boredom and it acted as an escape from everyday worries. Cut off from family, friends and society at large, the Reading Club offered members the opportunity to be a community of readers, rather than offenders.
We would like to thank the members of the Scientific Committee for accepting our proposal and the members of the Organizing Committee for the great conference they offer to us.
