The challenges for the Ukrainian Library Association after 24th February 2022 were extraordinary. But sometimes challenges are rising opportunities and for the association, it was an occasion to show how libraries are taking the battlefield in their effort to open again the window of democracy. From combating fake news to keeping alive libraries even in difficult situations, what the Ukrainian Library Association did is a good example of how solidarity builds hope.

The Ukrainian Library Association (ULA) was founded in 1995 and is a non-governmentally professional association with individual membership. ULA represents approximately 57,000 librarians and more than 33,000 libraries across Ukraine. ULA members are employed in national, public, academic, school, and special libraries. The Association has more than 60 official partners, as well as sections and round tables to focus on specific aspects of librarianship and information science.

The Association strives to be the chief advocate for high standards in library and information services by protecting the right to read, educating librarians, and improving library services. ULA contributes to the guarantee of intellectual freedom and free access to information, promotes public awareness of libraries and librarians, and works to strengthen and develop the library profession and library and information science education.

ULA has collaborated on projects with a number of international government and non-government organizations, including the European Commission, European Cultural Foundation, Renaissance Foundation (Kyiv), Open Society Institute (in Budapest), British Council in Kyiv, Goethe Institute in Kyiv, U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) and the others. ULA was a partner in implementing the Bibliomist Program, administered by IREX, a program of the Global Libraries initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The aim of the Bibliomist Program was to modernize the Ukrainian public library system by providing technology for Internet access in public libraries and training for librarians throughout Ukraine. A similar project happened in Romania in 2014, the name of the program was Biblionet. 

Open access to government information is a focus of ULA activities. It implements the project Government Information for Citizens in Libraries: Search, Access, and Consulting. ULA provides training for librarians and administers the network of libraries with government information access points. Under the EU Erasmus + program, ULA aims to provide Ukrainians greater access to European information in libraries.

The current point of interest of the ULA is the strengthening of Academic Integrity in Ukraine Project, advocacy, and news literacy. ULA joined IFLA in 1995 and in 2009, renewed its membership. In partnership with IFLA, the Bibliomist Program, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and leading Ukrainian libraries, ULA strengthened its capacity by educating librarians under the IFLA Building Strong Library Associations program. In partnership with the National Academy of Administrators in Culture and the Arts of Ukraine, ULA in 2000, established the Centre for Continuing Information and Library Science Education. The Center provides a variety of continuing education courses in library and information science and training sessions. Since 1995, ULA has organized hundreds of conferences, seminars, and workshops published more than 35 books and prepared about 20 electronic collections of the ULA conference materials.

After the war started, the association had a very important role in promoting, in a pragmatic way, the services of the libraries in cities that were under Russian attack. When I say pragmatically, I refer to a consistent way to announce to the inhabitants what libraries have bomb shelters. It was crucial at one point for people to know that libraries are that safe spaces for them.  Libraries are playing vital roles in supporting Ukraine’s war effort from giving families shelter during Russian bombing raids to making camouflage nets for the military and countering disinformation.

As a good example to their community of librarians in Ukraine, but also worldwide, the association was supposed to host an international event in March 2022. But, since the war started on 24th February, the association posted a notice that they will postpone the event. This confident tone empowered the librarians and the Ukrainians to look optimistic about the future and to trust their solidarity against the Russian invaders. Also, with was predictable to leave aside any cooperation with Russian libraries, in this sense ULA wrote to the International Federation of Library Associations, academic publishers, and other institutions, asking them to exclude the Russia Library Association from all activities, citing the need to stand in the face of aggression and embrace values based on truth and the sharing of information.

Another aspect that turn into a must for libraries in Ukraine was combating fake news and disinformation on the Russian invasion. It is a fact that even in peacetime, Ukraine’s libraries try to counteract the influence of disinformation, training people in media and information literacy. But this is war, and everything about life in Ukraine is now different. The association understood that country’s librarians are hard at work trying to keep their collections safe and making sure people can access books and other materials. So, it was a solidarity that came from the community. And the solidarity is built on trust and by this enlargement of the volunteers who participated in libraries to various activities (making camouflage nets, clothes, activities with children), the library proved a total responsibility to their communities. The association (ULA) had a big role in delivering positive messages worldwide, empowering the role of the librarians in Ukraine and creating a bridge with the international community of librarians. 

Get in touch with the Ukranian Library Association

Address: 83-85 Turghenevska St., Kyiv, Ukraine

Phone number: +380 443831432

Webpage/ social media channel: https://ula.org.ua/en/

This project is developed by Progress Foundation Romania, granted by E.U. and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and implemented in Armenia, Republic Of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine with the help of the regional partners: Lori Regional Library, Armenia; “Dimitrie Cantemir” Public Library from Ungheni, “IPS Antonie Plamadeala” Public Library from Hincesti & Library Association from Republic of Moldova; “G.T. Kirileanu” Neamt County Library & “Antim Ivireanul” Valcea County Library from Romania; Luhansk Regional Scientific Library, Lviv Public Library & Ukrainian Library Association, from Ukraine.

This article was written by PhD Alin Daniel Piroșcă.

Growing Active Citizens Hubs is granted by E.U. and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Black Sea Trust or its partners.