The program that supports Ukrainian libraries damaged by the war, #Ukrainian_Library_Renaissance, continues in 2024. This year more than 50 libraries are scheduled to receive new books from Ukrainian publishing houses with support from the Zimin Foundation. Besides books, they will also receive laptops to help restore the record-keeping system. In January the project began working with 14 libraries in Mykolaiv and Dnipro regions; the books are just about to be shipped to their destinations.

#Ukrainian_Library_Renaissance project was launched in 2023. The pilot round helped 30 libraries that received books from a carefully compiled list and laptops. According to the latest data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, 689 libraries have been damaged since the Russian invasion.

We are pleased to share some feedback from Ukrainian librarians.

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“Dear colleagues, the public libraries of Nikopol city are endlessly grateful for your support in this trying time. New books for our visitors are like a fresh breath of air. Reading is an easily available and important way to unwind, get some positive emotions and a temporary break from our visitors’ hard lives. Our readers discover new books, get to know contemporary Ukrainian and world authors, take a special interest in history. These books are an unobtrusive way of delving into the Ukrainian-speaking environment. Our sincere thanks to the organizers for helping restore our book collections as we keep on serving people in the war-stricken city.”

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“The village library of Mala Mechetnya sends sincere gratitude for your priceless help in replenishing our book collection, which is so important during the war. Your input helps us provide local people with access to the latest information and knowledge. Our library has become busier. Your books are amazing. You have made the people of Mala Mechetnya happier.”

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“We, the readers and librarians of the Public Library of Snihurivka City Council, would like to express sincere gratitude for the books we received from you. The book remains the main weapon of libraries and librarians. While the book lives, the nation lives, too. One can find like-minded folks in a book, it helps people have a good time and not feel lonely. The new books are an important part of our collection, they will definitely be read.”

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“Thank you so much for helping restock our Pervomaisk Public Library. Our library’s fate has been altered by the war: we have only about 3,000 books left out of 30,000. Yet every day children and adults come to us to pick out a book that will become their friend, helper, therapist, that can calm them down or answer questions. Because you helped us rebuild the collection, we now have a little more visitors. Every book has found its reader.”

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