#10

January 18, 2014
Working at an information point and participating at the symbolic campaign "Path of Light" 

This year Riga is the European Capital of Culture and the city launched its cultural programme with three days of celebration. From January 17 to 19 the centre of Riga was filled with people coming to take part in the opening events, one of which was an entirely unique campaign, officially called "Path of Light" but more commonly known as "Chain of Booklovers". Altogether around fourteen thousand people, forming a live chain, passed books from hand to hand, from the old building of the National Library of Latvia to its striking new building across the Daugava River. I helped in the realization process of this remarkable event and took a part in it as well.

As wonderful and uniting as being a part of a 'human chain' and passing books is, I wanted to do something more. Since I had no preferences about the type of work I was assigned to do, I gladly accepted the offer to become a 'know-all' - a person who's duties involve answering people's questions and handing them informational booklets in case they were interested. Having received and studied sample handout materials beforehand, I was well informed about all the events - exhibitions, concerts and festivals - taking place in different places of Riga, and was ready to set up my working spot at the main building of University of Latvia at 11 am.

After meeting with my direct supervisor Anete, I received many large boxes containing 'Rīga 2014' booklets, newspapers in three languages and city maps with marked objects. While everything seemed fine with the booklets and maps, the 'trilingual' newspapers seemed quite peculiar for each contained information of different kinds and amount. Due to the cover design being different as well, many people - as I observed - took the newspaper written in English, and I highly doubt that they even checked the paper's language. Still, I placed everything on stands and in other noticeable places, and, dressed in my yellow volunteer's T-shirt, quickly got to work. Considering that my info-point was located inside the building, people coming to my stand were not random, scarcely informed pedestrians. Instead they were participants of "Chain of Booklovers" who had signed up to form the book-passing chain on Merķeļa Street and whose meeting place was the University's lobby, so naturally their questions were rather specific.

Therefore I was truly glad that I was familiar with the opening programme and could really help people by answering their questions and solving some of their problems. For instance, since the weather was frightfully cold for outdoor activities quite a few people were interested in finding places that offered warm tea. Also, more than once I was asked to briefly tell about the most interesting objects and events, and I tried to mention events of as large a variety as I could instantly recall. Moreover, even if such an idea was never proposed by the media, one lady surprised me by inquiring whether people will be centrally organised to walk to the new library after their shift. Although I had to give her a negative answer, I could at least inform her that the library was open for every person interested from 1 to 5 pm.

While I truly enjoyed working at the information point, I was not satisfied with the overall organisation of the event. For example, the distribution of handout materials was rather irrational, for when I ran out of Latvian newspapers I still had a whole pack of Russian newspapers left. Also, I was provided with much more maps than booklets, although people were interested in learning about the events and not as much viewing them comprehensively marked in a map. And many people upon their arrival came to me, mistaking me in my bright shirt for the people responsible for participants' registration that were standing in the corner and being almost invisible in the crowd.

Still, the biggest objection was the poor organization of the Chain itself. All the way back in September I had signed up to be a part of the chain at the very beginning of the event, desiring to pass the first books that left the shelf. Despite the biting cold weather, the organizers managed to torture participants by delaying the event for half an hour that we spent shivering. After those 30 minutes the second shift arrived already and only then we received the first books, not to mention that people were hindering the process by taking photos with some books in the middle of the chain and thus evoking a true chaos.

Thus, I was even more delighted to return to my info-stand, where I was of actual help to the confused people.

As always - pictures:

the thematic brochure, map and the newspaper I was offering

an info-stand...

...and a volunteer beside it

people waiting for the "Path of Light" and reading the booklets

communicating with other equally confused 'parts of the Chain'

waiting for the first book to arrive

my Rīga 2014 T-shirt with a volunteer's name badge attached to it

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My reflections

With Rīga being the European Capital of Culture this year, I intend to get involved in as much of the marvelous events as I can. That is why I wanted to do more at the opening events of Rīga 2014 cultural programme than simply participate in "Chain of Booklovers", for which I had signed up already in September. As I had no specific requests and was willing to give any kind of help that was needed, I was excited to work at an information centre. Even if my duties included offering brochures that would not be my primary choice were the circumstances different, I could frequently communicate with people, answer their questions and inform them about other events taking place in the centre of Riga.
Hence my first challenge was to be thoroughly aware of all the events that were printed in the booklet, for I had to be ready to answer any question related to these three days of celebration. From naming places that offered free tea to suggesting some events that are worth visiting, I think I did a rather good job. The only questions I was unable to answer were not in my competence, but I successfully redirected people to other Rīga 2014 representatives. Throughout the activity I continued working on my communication and collaboration skills, for I got to help people as well as cooperate with quite a few other volunteers. To my surprise the activity was not at all tiring, since the masses of people were constantly changing, the same as the questions asked.
A whole different kind of challenge was taking part in the "Chain of Booklovers". Due to the cold weather, I believe that spending the expected half an hour outside in one spot would have been hard enough even if the beginning of the event was not so poorly organised and did not lead to additional forty minutes spent in the cold. Still, the idea itself was amazing, and the symbolism behind it gave yet another motivation to endure being a part of that partly numb human chain. Besides everyone got to share their weariness by engaging in popular Latvian songs, which gave the event an even deeper meaning.
I am glad I took part in these activities regardless of the spiteful weather, and even happier that I managed to kill two birds with one stone - combine voluntary work with participation in the Chain.