why Russian barbarians are destroying schools, universities, museums, librar- ies, cathedrals. Probably because they hate educated, free and happy people. “Libraries in Ukraine are educational spaces where everyone can get new knowledge and skills. Even now, in war- time, Lviv regional library for children conducts online computer and media literacy classes. Lesia Ukrainka Public Library for adults in Kyiv offers online lectures on current issues. “Libraries in Ukraine are places of safety and freedom, where everyone in need gets free access to informa- tion, internet, psychological support, assistance in solving life’s challenges. It is literally about ‘libraries saving lives’, because many libraries are now open as shelters from bombs and shells. “At present, Ukrainian libraries primarily perform their social func- tion and focus their work on refugees. Here everyone can make copies of documents, get advice on housing and humanitarian aid, get information about the schedule of transport, open hours and addresses of groceries, rules concerning curfew, may warm up, eat, get library therapy, etc.”
She adds: “As far as I know, librarians, having the appropriate instructions, took the necessary measures to pre- serve valuable book collections. But it is impossible to preserve historical and cultural values if the Russian invaders set out to burn down the city completely, as is currently the case in Kharkiv and Chernihiv.”
International support has been arriv- ing for the ULA, and Yaroslava explains that this moral support has had a pos- itive impact on her and her colleagues working in Ukrainian libraries. She said: “We have received many letters of support from international organisa- tions such as EBLIDA, NAPLE, PUBLIC LIBRARIES 2030, national and special library associations, libraries, cultur- al institutions, NGOs, and librarians all around the world. We are amazed that libraries and other institutions in different countries have illuminated their buildings with the blue and yellow colours or have raised the Ukrainian flag to express their solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
“Thanks to Nick Poole, Chief Exec- utive, CILIP and his viral tweet, a lot of people learned about Ukrainian Library Association in the most remote cities from Kyiv – and hundreds of warm-hearted people sent us words of support, poems, songs, offered help with the settlement, transferred funds to the National Bank of Ukraine to sup- port the army and humanitarian needs. “Moral support is extremely impor- tant. When you get into a stressful situation, you look for some stability
March 2022
Yaroslava Soshynska.
and emotional balance. Serious, well-con- sidered statements by our partners, who are forming a coalition in support of common values, give this stability. And words of support, understanding, empa- thy, emoji ‘hearts’, ‘hugs’ in the email and social networks – these are the emotions that protect us from the barbarism and violence of war.”
Asked about what practical support could be offered during this time, Yaroslava says the immediate need is to protect civilians, and only governments and security organisations can do that. She says that, for now, libraries will take a back seat, saying: “While we have an acute phase of warfare on the territory of our state – it is not time to talk about the challenges or needs of librarians. We need to talk about the challenges and needs of the country.
“We need to protect the civilians from air strikes, cruise and ballistic missiles,
from humanitarian catastrophe, from the brutality of the occupiers. This is a matter for governments and international secu- rity organisations, but in a democracy, it is the people who can push them to make decisions. So, we look forward and be very grateful if the progressive world commu- nity continues to urge its governments to take quick decisions in support of Ukraine to prevent these terrible human losses.” And even as the war continues, Yaroslava takes comfort in knowing that libraries have a role to play in this war and in, hopefully preventing others. She said: A life based on truth and a life based on a lie are two completely different worlds. Confident people are not afraid of the truth, use critical thinking, that makes them freer and gives a broader worldview. Lazy and cowardly people do not want to think, they are completely satisfied with someone else’s opinion, which is broad- cast by the media.
“Ukrainian libraries, together with partners – governmental and non-govern- mental organisations, educational insti- tutions, non-formal education providers – are doing a lot to develop media literacy of our citizens.” However, she goes on to criticise Rus-
sian library counterparts who failed to condemn the war, saying: “This situation requires librarians to constantly watch for truthful and reliable information. It is extremely important that librarians around the world [use] professional ethics [to] support the fight against misinfor- mation and unite their efforts. We are very sorry that Russian librarians who, in their statement of 2 March separate themselves from the social and political context, did not join this struggle. Then the question arises: are libraries in Russia social institutions? What are their modern functions, apart from collecting, storing, and preserving documentary collections?” She ends on a defiant and hopeful note for the future.
“Ukrainians have an invincible strength of spirit and together with you, our friends and reliable partners, we will win,” she says, adding: “The Russian occupiers have destroyed and continue to destroy civilian infrastructure in many cities, towns, and villages of Ukraine. But after the victory we will rebuild everything and our libraries will be even more modern and comfortable.” IP
l This interview was carried out by an email exchange with Yaroslava. CILIP has been in intermittent contact with Yaroslava both before and after the interview, which was conducted in good faith on 3 March. As with any reporting from a war zone, it is difficult to corroborate events without being on the ground, and we would urge readers to be aware of the limitations we have operated under. However we felt it was important to give Yaroslava and the ULA a platform in this instance.
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