Polarbibblo is granted national funding for the introduction of five Romani languages
Polarbibblo is granted national funding from both the Arts Council of Sweden and the Royal Library to introduce five Romani languages to the digital platform for children. The initiative strengthens the work with Romani varieties as a national minority language and is an important step towards increased access to language, reading and storytelling for Romani children throughout the country.
In the spring of 2026, five Romani varieties will be launched on Polarbibblo: arli, kaale, kelderash, lovari and resanderomani. The introduction is taking place as a collective step, after a completed feasibility study that clearly showed the importance of making several Romani languages visible at the same time. The work has been led by a Romani process manager in close dialogue with Romani associations and organizations, the Institute for Language and Folklore, libraries and, not least, Romani children and young people around the country.
Annette Kohkoinen, library developer at Polarbibblo. Photo: Linda Kvenås.
– For us at Polarbibblo, it is crucial that all children encounter their language in a safe environment. Polarbibblo's moderated and secure platform creates just that kind of room, says Annette Kohkoinen, library developer at Polarbibblo.
For the initiative, the Swedish Arts Council has granted SEK 329,600 for 2026 through the More Reading grant. The funds will be used to introduce Romani chib at Polarbibblo and to strengthen children's access to language, storytelling and reading on their own terms.
In addition to this, the Royal Library has granted SEK 200,000 for 2026 for work with Romani chib and for collaboration with the country's resource library for national minority languages. In Sweden there are five resource libraries, one for each national minority language: Yiddish, Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib and Sami languages.
– National minority languages need long-term and structural investments. The fact that major national actors are behind this launch shows that the work is taken seriously, says Annette.
The introduction of the Romani languages takes place in project form. The ambition is to then become part of Polarbibblo's regular operations, in the same way as the other languages on the site. The goal is for Polarbibblo to eventually include all national minority languages.
Facts about Polarbibblo
Polarbibblo is a safe and moderated digital site where children can read, listen, write and play word games in Swedish and national minority languages. Polarbibblo is a national digital library service and is used by children and libraries throughout the country. The site is run by the Norrbotten Regional Library in collaboration with the county's public library. Through both content and methodological material, Polarbibblo contributes to strengthening the work of libraries based on the Library Act, with a particular focus on children, languages and national minorities.
Polarbibblo's activities can be followed at Polarbibblo.se, Facebook and Social media coordinator.