The 40th IBBY Congress in Ottawa – A Personal Reflection
Blog Post by Tina Bilban
"Amazing!" exclaimed a Canadian teacher we met during our travels across Canada.
This time, the enthusiasm wasn't a reaction to the gorgeous Canadian scenery. Instead, it was a response to my description of a global community dedicated to children's literature and reading promotion, and the fact that we gather from all over the world every two years to share best practices, excellent books, and inspiration.
At the time of that conversation, the 40th IBBY Congress in Ottawa had just ended, and all the rich impressions still needed time to settle. I suspect this was the case not just for me, but for most of the participants.
Now, almost two months later, as I finally sit down to write this post, the official report about the magnificent congress has already been shared by the IBBY Secretariat. Therefore, you have already been informed about the main events: from the IBBY Forum and the Children in Crisis Panel, through the award ceremonies, exhibitions, and inspiring talks, all the way to the closing ceremony and post-congress tours.
What you cannot really grasp from the official reports, and thus this blog post will likely fail to truly deliver as well, is everything going on alongside and around the programme, intertwined with and inspired by it.
For months to come, I will be thinking about the deep introspection into their own work shared by Sydney Smith and Jon Klassen. We got a glimpse into the essence of art that cannot be fully grasped, but only hinted at and subtly shared—the depiction of the personal and the addressing of the universal. These are also the characteristics sought by the Hans Christian Andersen Award jury, found this year in Michael Rosen's writing and Cai Gao's illustrations.
Equally strong are the bonds created and renewed at IBBY congresses: the old friends you reconnect with and the new collaborations you spark. After the 39th IBBY Congress in Trieste, a firm collaboration among the so-called Adriatic Sections (IBBY Italy, IBBY Slovenia, IBBY Croatia) was formed—or rather, evolved. We have visited each other, shared best practices, and organized joint events.
Two years later, we presented our shared initiatives first at the FELA (Federation of European Literacy Associations) conference in Ljubljana, and then at the IBBY Congress in Ottawa. We are now richer for these joint, borderless events, which were also featured in a new borderless section of the IBBY Europe Newsletter.
These collaborations will leave a lasting effect. For example, inspired by the practices of other IBBY Sections, IBBY Slovenia is, together with close partners, introducing a new award for Slovenian children's literature, chosen by young readers. A close dialogue with others who have established similar projects in their own environments enabled us to optimize the process without having to test all the variables ourselves. Besides, we had immense fun chatting with colleagues from other sections over coffee and ice cream.
As I was leaving the congress, the news reached me about the passing of Slavko Pregl, the Slovenian nominee for the IBBY-iRead Award. Until the very end, Slavko was a cornerstone of reading promotion in Slovenia. Convinced that every child needs access to quality children's literature, he conceived the Golden Reader project, which provided every child with a quality children's book. Carrying the diploma he received at the congress in my luggage, I thought about the vast hole his departure has left in the community.
What Slavko left behind are unfinished battles and projects that must continue, values that transcend current politics, and an enthusiasm that overcomes obstacles. And this is exactly where everything we gathered during the IBBY Congress in Ottawa will be of immense help—all the inspiration, all the friendships, and all the laughs. We left the congress with new knowledge, but also with new strength. In accordance with the IBBY initiative Joy is an Act of Resistance, both are desperately needed.
