Tallinna Keskraamatukogu | Page 282

‹ 282 › The 1960s: What Really Happened? The post-war reign of terror began to slowly subside in the middle of the 1950s. In 1956 the first of those deported to Siberia by the new regime arrived back in Estonia. Many who were able to stay alive and return to Estonia were not able to return to their homes. The desire for education drove many people to learn alongside their work. The free education system of the period of independence disappeared with the coming of the new regime, but at the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s interest groups sustaining national culture became more active in the shadow of compulsory propagandist events. In 1958 a literature group was established at the Tallinn Central Library, and to this was added a homeland research group in the 1960s. Soon after an ex libris collectors group was formed. At the same time there was a literature group in the Russian department. Interest in literature grew greatly. The work of Estonian authors was published more and more. In the 1960s many young writers came on the scene who have influenced Estonian literature to the present day. In keeping with the requirements of the times the libraries had to arrange various mass events and diversify the form of literary events. One of the most popular events of the decade was the literary court. These literary courts were presented as a spectacle: in the “trials” there was a plaintiff, defendant and judge. As collectivism was stressed at that time, encapsulation was condemned and the propaganda deman