NEWS Library Association on the front line
FROM its first defiant statement to its members, to its recent calls for academic publishers to cut services to Russian institutions, the Ukrain- ian Library Association (ULA) has maintained lively communications via its Facebook page. In its statement (
https://ula.org.ua/en/) the ULA said: “The relevance of libraries in overcoming the challenges facing people, the community 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, Librar- ians, are aware of our importance and our responsibility!”
The role of Ukrainian librarians in democracy building has also been high- lighted by Claudia Serbanuta, from the Romania-based Progress Foundation. She said they had been working on three Ukrainian projects since 2019 (https://oc-
cupylibrary.net/regional-projects/) saying: “The focus of our collaboration is on public libraries supporting the development of strong democratic communities” add- ing “I knew librarians from Ukraine are good professionals but I am impressed by their stamina in the face of the most horrific aggression. I am inspired by their great work and hope we and the international commu- nity of librarians will be able to help them support their communities in need.”
At the time of writing the ULA Facebook page had given updates on the actions of its libraries and librarians which differed depending on their proximity to fighting. Some “continue to work, providing access to information and Internet” the ULA said, adding that others support local defence forces and “inform the elderly and the sick residents, people with disabilities”. One has “opened a collection point for defenders at checkpoints and for city hospitals”. It adds: “Employees of the Yevgeniv Library in dif- ficult conditions sew robes for doctors of their hospital. Libraries of the Kobliv com- munity will knit mask nets, prepare food for our defenders.”
It also said that another was posting official information, such as rules on cur-
fews as well as advice from a psychologist. The ULA’s approach to event management also went viral after it announced that it was postponing a scientific conference and “has decided to hold the Conference after our confident victory”. CILIP is one of many library organisations that have issued statements of solidarity with Ukraine and it has been signed by over 700 people from Hong Kong to San Diego. It said: “The library, archive and informa-
tion professional community in the UK will work with our colleagues around the world to offer whatever support and solidarity we can to our professional colleagues in Ukraine.” You can read an exclusive interview with the ULA’s Executive Director, Yaroslava Soshynska, on pp. 14-15.
Academic publishers asked to break ties with Russia over invasion
THE UKRAINIAN Library Associa- tion (ULA) is appealing to academic publishers and providers of scien- tific content “to cease cooperation with authors, editors and scientific institutions from the Russian Fed- eration.
The appeal was published on the ULA’s Facebook page and some publishers have confirmed that they have received a letter making the request. As Information Professional went to
press two of the 18 publishers on the ULA’s mailing list had said they were not
March 2022
halting their business with Russia and would continue for as long as international sanc- tions did not prevent them from doing so. However, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, has published a statement saying: “In these most challenging of times, we believe it is essential for us to continue to be led by our mission, supporting our learners, teachers and researchers in what- ever ways are legal, practical, and safe. “To that end, we have paused our opera- tions in both countries temporarily (other than where we have prior and specific com- mitments to support teachers, learners and
researchers) so that we can respond to the still emerging nature of international sanc- tions and consider any further action we need to take.” The Guardian reported that Germany has ended all collaboration with Russia on educa- tion and research and that George Freeman, the UK science minister, has ordered “a rapid review” of all Russian beneficiaries of UK science and technology funding, with experts saying sanctions could include the exclusion of Russian scientists from read- ing or publishing in international scientific journals.
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