Address of the Presidium of the Ukrainian Library Association to the Library Community of Ukraine dated February 23, 2022
23 February 2022
Dear library community!
We are at the forefront of the fight against fakes, misinformation and cyber threats!
Libraries are educational spaces where everyone has the opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills. Librarians teach and help hundreds of thousands of people every day to master the skills to live in the digital world and have a safe cyberspace for themselves and their loved ones. Every day, librarians work so that people, communities and society can distinguish true information from lies and resist information and psychological manipulation.
Libraries are places of security and freedom, where everyone who needs it will have free access to information, the Internet, psychological support, and help in solving their life difficulties.
Libraries are places of power where people find themselves. In daily communication, librarians do their best to make everyone who comes to the library love books, love their language, love Ukraine.
Libraries are a strategic weapon of the state in the hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation for many years!
The relevance of libraries in overcoming the challenges facing individuals, communities and society in Ukraine has become apparent during the last eight years of Russian aggression.
Today, when we face the threat of an open war with Russia, you and I, Librarians, are aware of our importance and our responsibility!
We support each other! We know that together we will overcome everything!
We support our friends and colleagues from Luhansk and Donetsk regions!
We believe in and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine!
Keep calm! We love our readers, libraries and Ukraine!
We do where we are, everything we have to do!
Glory to Ukraine!
From the Presidium of the Ukrainian Library Association
Sincerely
Oksana Bruy,
President of the Ukrainian Library Association,
Director of NTB KPI. Igor Sikorsk
Next. From a Facebook update by the ULA, which was supposed to hold a conference March 1-4:
"The Organizing Committee of the conference has decided to hold the conference after our confident victory[...]"
I'd like to note the public outpouring of solidarity from other Library Associations - The Baltic States, Czech Republic, Germany, and more.
I'd also like to share this from the European Bureau of Library, Information,and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA) and National Authorities of Public Libraries in Europe (NAPLE), and Public Libraries 2030 (PL2030):
"The barbaric attack of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is against the basic principles of a sustainable, democratic and equitable society.
In response to the appeal launched by the Ukrainian Library Association, EBLIDA, NAPLE and Public Libraries 2030 urge libraries all over Europe to mobilise in favour of accurate information to be
spread on the conflict as a means to support democracy and freedom of expression. Libraries are also urged to support any Ukrainian refugees, in collaboration with governmental and non-
governmental organisations (for instance, Sanctuary cities, Sant’Egidio community, etc.). We should be ready to find practical solutions and be prepared to provide Ukrainians with assistance and services as needed.
And last. Some sad photos of the Chernihiv Central Library after the city was shelled by Russian troops.
The librarians are in the fight. In a war like this, information is a critical tool.
Anyway, that's it for now. Goodnight all!