What if books could talk? Right here stands the Medienforum Essen. It is more than just a building. It is a vibrant hub for education and culture. The Medienforum des Bistums Essen is a public institution. It focuses on media education and religious education. It also promotes literature and reading.
Imagine 1,200 volunteers. They are all qualified. They work in 160 Catholic public libraries. These libraries are all within the Essen diocese. The Medienforum supports these volunteers.
The Medienforum Essen opens its doors to everyone. It offers diverse cultural events. Think of readings and film screenings. Envision talks and discussion panels. Hear concerts and see exhibitions. The Medienforum uses books and media. It addresses socially relevant topics. It sparks public discourse in creative ways.
Vera Steinkamp leads the Medienforum Essen. She is the contact person. The opening hours vary. It is closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Thursday, it is open from 10:00 to 18:30. On Fridays, it is open from 10:00 to 15:00.
“BücherLeben” invites authors for talks. They discuss life interpretation in their texts. “Ich lese, weil…” features conversations. People from society and politics share their reading motivations. “In die Welt geschrieben…” hosts authors. They address socio-political topics in their books. “So lese ich die Bibel” presents personal experiences with the Bible. People from different backgrounds share their views.
The Medienforum Essen also hosts “SPURENSUCHE”. This is a conference on religion in children’s literature. It happens annually. It is always the first weekend after Rose Monday.
The Medienforum supports reading projects. It does so in cooperation with a support association. This includes reading and writing competitions. It also offers annual reading tours. Award winners of the Catholic Children’s Book Prize participate. Authors of modern literature also join. They also support other innovative reading projects.
Inside the Medienforum Essen, you will find modern art exhibitions. The forum provides expert advice. It supports the 1,200 volunteers in Catholic libraries. The Medienforum Essen offers literary training. This helps to qualify the library volunteers.
The Medienforum has published “Schreib.Werk.Stadt”. It is a collection of stories. It was published in cooperation with the support association.
The Medienforum Essen also houses a library. It holds 150,000 media items. This includes books and journals. Find also DVDs and audiobooks. The library serves as a resource center. It is a hub for church libraries. The Medienforum organizes many events.
The Medienforum’s podcast, “Quergelesen”, is available. It features readings and discussions with guest authors. Find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Consider the Medienforum Essen a beacon of knowledge. It is a place for dialogue. It is a space for community. It enriches Essen with its cultural offerings. It promotes literacy. It inspires conversations that matter. The Medienforum Essen is truly a gem in the city.