Summary: <p>What comes to mind when you imagine a library? Rows of books, probably. But across the continent, libraries are transforming into places that serve communities in all sorts of other ways. This week we hear from two very different libraries about how they're doing just that: Bojana Grujic of the <a href="https://www.gbns.rs/" target="_blank">Novi Sad City Library</a> in Serbia and Myrto Tsilimpounidi from the <a href="https://feministresearch.org/projects/feminist-library/" target="_blank">Feminist Library</a> at the Feminist Autonomous Centre in Athens. We're also talking about the fallout from Macron's trip to China, the international fight against Hungary's homophobic law, and the hallucinogenic adventures of early Europeans.</p> <p>Bojana and Myrto's libraries are taking part in the European Cultural Foundation's <a href="https://theeuropechallenge.eu/" target="_blank">Europe Challenge</a>. The hunt for new participants begins soon; keep an eye on the <a href="https://culturalfoundation.eu/programmes/the-europe-challenge/" target="_blank">ECF's website</a> for updates, or <a href="https://culturalfoundation.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=18d3e4c2f6eba867fb23be611&id=40540711d8" target="_blank">subscribe to their newsletter</a>.</p> <p>This week's Isolation Inspiration: <a href="https://protectiondesoiseaux.be/boutique-nature/collerette-birdsbesafe-tourbillons-lumineux" target="_blank">Birdsbesafe cat collars</a>, available via the Royal Belgian League for the Protection of Birds, and 'The Shadow King' by Maaza Mengiste. Bonus: <a href="https://flannel-orange-7fc.notion.site/Weekly-planner-Katy-s-template-28fdd36d96b5479f926478c0253200f7" target="_blank">Katy's amazing Notion template</a>. <br></p> <p>Thanks for listening! If you enjoy our podcast and would like to help us keep making it, we'd love it if you'd consider chipping in a few bucks a month at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/europeanspodcast">patreon.com/europeanspodcast</a> (many currencies are available). You can also help new listeners find the show by <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-europeans/id1315776736">leaving us a review</a> or giving us five stars on Spotify. </p> <p>FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT HERE: <a href="https://europeanspodcast.com/episodes/libraries-the-safest-spaces-we-have" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://europeanspodcast.com/episodes/libraries-the-safest-spaces-we-have</a> </p> <p> 00:22 No Easter eggs for Dominic</p> <p>02:43 Messy / Bad Week: Macron and von der Leyen's trip to China</p> <p>14:47 Good Week: The fight against Hungary's anti-LGBTQ law</p> <p>23:06 Interview: Bojana Grujic and Myrto Tsilimpounidi on the reinvention of Europe's libraries</p> <p>35:51 Isolation Inspiration: Birdsbesafe cat collars and 'The Shadow King' by Maaza Mengiste</p> <p>40:59 Happy Ending: Early Europeans' psychedelic dabbling</p> <p><br></p> <p>Producers: Katy Lee and Wojciech Oleksiak </p> <p>Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak</p> <p>Music: Jim Barne and Mariska Martina</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/europeanspod" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/europeanspodcast/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> | <a href="mailto:hello@europeanspodcast.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">hello@europeanspodcast.com</a></p>
