On November 12, members of the book lovers' club "Knyginyčia" gathered at the Anykščiai Liudvika and Stanislovas Didžiuliai Public Library. Two books were presented at the Regional Documents and Local History Department of Anykščiai VB: "One among Ones: For the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius of the Holy Roman Catholic Church: Publication of Sources" (2020) and "A Journey in Time: Nemunėlis Radviliškis in Photographs (1973–1979) and in the Works of Creators of the Sacred and Poetic Word of this Region in the 19th–21st Centuries" (2023). Both of these books were prepared by Evaldas Timukas, a senior librarian at the Biržai Jurgis Bielinis Public Library, a local historian, an employee of the Nemunėlis Radviliškis Museum, and a guide, and Irena Andrukaitienė, a native of Anykštė, a teacher, a local historian, a social activist, and a signatory of the March 11 Act of Independence.
The authors who came to the meeting of the club „Knyginyčia“ talked about the work they had done and shared their impressions of preparing books. E. Timukas said that he met Irena several years ago when she came to Nemunėlis Radviliškis, wanting to learn more and prepare publications about the signatory of the Lithuanian Act of Independence, public figure Jokūbas Šernas, and his brother, the priest of the Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church, Adamas Šernas. The unexpected acquaintance encouraged the signatory and the librarian of the Biržai region to undertake joint work. Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius (1920–2000) was removed from his position as bishop by the Soviet authorities and exiled to Nemunėlis Radviliškis (Biržai district) in 1959–1976, and in 1976–1982. lived in Pabiržė. As the 100th anniversary of the cardinal's birth approached, E. Timukas addressed the then Speaker of the Seimas, Viktoras Pranckietis, requesting that the Seimas declare 2020 the year of the famous clergyman. When it was not possible to honor the cardinal's memory at the state level, E. Timukas and I. Andrukaitienė collected the memoirs of 66 authors who knew V. Sladkevičius, surviving photographs of the cardinal, and published a book about him, "Oneself Among Ones." E. Timukas spoke about the then bishop's contribution to distributing the chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church and about the close communication of his relatives with V. Sladkevičius.
I. Andrukaitienė was fascinated by people's memories of Cardinal V. Sladkevičius. The residents of Nemunėlis Radviliškis greatly respected and loved him, calling him Bishop. V. Sladkevičius greeted every student and took off his hat in front of each child. "He was a gift from God to the village children," said I. Andrukaitienė about the clergyman's respectful behavior. After reading numerous memories of V. Sladkevičius, the signatory feels as if she had known the Cardinal herself.
The book „Journey in Time“ is completely different. I. Andrukaitienė said that the book-album contains photographs by Radviliškis photographer Petras Deglis Jr. Some of the photographs were taken when the author was 14 years old. In 1973–1979, P. Deglis photographed absolutely all the buildings of Nemunėlis Radviliškis, signs on buildings, the bridge, the military cemetery, and all the objects of the town. Each photograph is accompanied by comments from more than one person about the buildings and their owners. The book is unique in that it presents the creators of the sacred and poetic word of the 19th-21st centuries. After the first edition of the book „Journey in Time“, some people from the local community admitted to the signatory that they cry while reading the book. „I was shocked that the book reads like a prayer book. If the book leaves such an impression, then it does not regret the work put in at all,“ said I. Andrukaitienė.
The club members had many questions about the Cardinal's personality and the Nemunėlis Radviliškis region. Everyone was delighted by the fact that the photographer, club member Alfredas Motiejūnas, took a picture of V. Sladkevičius's church vestments and thus the name of the Anykštė photographer was included in the book "One Among Ones".
After the meeting, E. Timukas and I. Andrukaitienė visited the 16th century oven and the memorial room of the Press photographer Izidorius Girtis located in the premises of the Public Library. The authors of the publications presented the book "Journey in Time" with the inscription: "To the Book Lovers Club "Knyginyčia" for the fostering of culture, the preservation and creation of local history traditions. The authors of the book are Irena Andrukaitienė Evaldas Timukas. Anykščiai, 2024. November 12".
The book club "Knyginyčia" has been joined by two new members: Regina Buterlevičienė and Vilija Gudmonienė. It is gratifying that the club "Knyginyčia" is becoming increasingly popular and its membership is growing.
Birute Venteraitiene
Librarian of the Regional Documents and Local History Department of Anykščiai Regional Library
