On 5 November 2026, the Lipsko Branch of the Pedagogical Library in Radom hosted a workshop for teachers and educators from Lipsko County, including school librarians. The workshop was led by Mariola Szymczyk, Urszula Burdon and Anna Chruściel from the “Zacisze u Przyjaciółek” Association.
The workshop also offered the school librarians’ collaboration network an opportunity to meet in a different setting. Around a shared table, participants learned about herbs and how to prepare oxymel, a mixture of vinegar and honey with plant ingredients. Herb-themed charades showed how play can help reinforce learning. The session also included a tasting of a herbal “power drink” and aromatic herbal teas.
A display of books from the library’s collection was an important part of the event. Alongside guides to growing herbs, it featured publications on identifying herbal plants and using them in cooking, including Leśne rośliny zielarskie (Woodland Herbs) and 100 roślin w twojej kuchni (100 Plants in Your Kitchen). The books were displayed alongside herbaria, where participants could take a closer look at dried specimens. Together, these materials suggest a practical activity for school libraries. Pupils can compare a specimen with an illustration, look up a description of the plant and create their own page for a class herbarium.
Exploring how herbs are used in cooking can open up a discussion about everyday food choices. In this way, the workshop connected with school health education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, which Poland’s Ministry of National Education has identified as priorities for the 2026/2027 school year.
We thank the workshop leaders for sharing their knowledge and experience, and the participants for exploring ideas together that can be put into practice in school libraries, classrooms and after-school clubs.
