On January 26, the "Library country" with the support of the British charity "Libraries Connected", a meeting was organized for exchange of experience between British and Ukrainian libraries.
Inspirational words of welcome were heard from both the head of the Library Country Foundation and the head of Libraries Connected, Isobel Hunter.
Already at the beginning of the event, the internal chat of the conference was filled with messages about the full support of Ukraine and enthusiasm for indomitability and courage of Ukrainians:
"Anna McMahon: Slava Ukraini, from Cambridgeshire Libraries!" Anna McMahon: Glory to Ukraine from the Cambridgeshire Library!
«Michelle Marie Jackson: Hello everyone from Staffordshire Libraries. We are amazed at your resilience and bravery, we are indebted to you»
“Stephani Wilson: Much strength and solidarity to colleagues in Ukraine. Your resilience, innovation, creativity and strength has been an inspiration to us all!” Стефані Вілсон: «Бажаємо сили та висловлюємо солідарність колегам в Україні. Ваша стійкість, інноваційність, креативність і сила надихають усіх нас!»
The participants from Ukraine had a great opportunity to get to know the organization "Libraries Connected", which was created to champion the power of libraries, demonstrate their importance to individuals and communities, and support library leaders in the UK.
Their Universal library offers (Universal Library Offers) are aimed at unification communities, improving well-being and promoting equality through learning, literacy and cultural activities.
There were reports from British colleagues on: Strategies for the development of UK libraries / Universal library offers, in particular on the topics: "Books and reading" - Dave Lloyd, Health and Wellbeing: Sarah Hassan, Digitization and Information: Stephanie Wilson and Culture and Creativity by Michelle Alford.
After an impromptu coffee break, the Ukrainian side presented its experiences:
- "Traveling library: evacuated twice!", the presentation was presented by Anastasia Litashova, head of the information technology department of the Luhansk Regional Library.
- "Library after the occupation" presented by Lyudmila Yefremova, director of the Trostyanets Public Library;
- the topic "Alternative funds in the activities of libraries during the war" was presented together with her colleagues Larisa Kharchuk, director of public libraries in the city of Zhytomyr,
- "How the health library works" was told by Nataliya Kucheryaeva, director of the Dykan public library;
- Hanna Kobets, head of the branch library for children in Kyiv, told the guests about the first "green" library of Kyiv in Prioryka.
We also share reviews of British and Ukrainian colleagues upon completion of the exchange of experience:
- Julie – Brighton & Hove Libraries: Thank you for your interesting presentations about libraries in Ukraine. I am really impressed at how library colleagues in Ukraine are coping in such difficult circumstances and managing to keep their services going. Very best wishes and solidarity from Brighton & Hove on the South coast of England
- Джулі: «Дякуємо за цікаві доповіді про бібліотеки України. Я дуже вражена тим, як колеги-бібліотеки в Україні справляються в таких складних обставинах і зуміють підтримувати свої послуги. Найкращі побажання та солідарність від Брайтона і Гоува на південному узбережжі Англії»
- Валентина Маковська: «Дякую за неперевершений захід. Інформація, як від колег із Великобританії, так і від наших колег дуже пізнавальна і, насамперед, мотивована на впровадження окремих ініціатив в інших бібліотеках.»
- Людмила Лагута: «Дякую за неймовірно насичену професійну зустріч!»
- Rhonda Brooks: “Thank you everyone – participants and organizers. It has been a very interesting afternoon. And it has been wonderful to hear of all the projects offered by our resilient and inspirational Ukrainian colleagues. Best wishes from Redbridge Libraries in Greater London”. Ронда Брукс: «Дякуємо всім – учасникам та організаторам. Це був дуже цікавий день. І було чудово чути про всі проекти, запропоновані нашими стійкими та натхненними українськими колегами. Найкращі побажання від бібліотек Редбрідж у Великому Лондоні».
- Anna McMahon, Cambridgeshire Libraries: «So impressed by all your innovations in such difficult times. You have given me ideas to bring back to my own library service!» Анна МакМагон, бібліотека Кембриджширу: «Я так вражена усіма вашими інноваціями в такі важкі часи. Ви дали мені ідеї, які я можу повернути до своєї власної бібліотеки!»
- Sam Мarshall: “This is giving me so many ideas as we are about to develop an ECO library in Hampshire – very thought provoking lots of great ideas thank you”. Сем Маршал: «Це дало мені стільки ідей, оскільки ми збираємося розробити ЕКО-бібліотеку в Гемпширі – дуже спонукає до роздумів, багато чудових ідей, дякую!»
- Gina Nicholls: “Thank you to all our colleagues from Ukraine who have shown such endurance, resilience and innovation in such hard times. You are truly amazing. May your oaks of victory grow well. Sending very best wishes from Buckinghamshire”. Джина Ніколс: «Дякуємо всім нашим колегам з України, які продемонстрували таку витривалість, стійкість та інноваційність у такі важкі часи. Ви справді дивовижні. Хай добре ростуть ваші дуби перемоги. Надсилаю найкращі побажання з Бакінгемшира!»
Such words became a reflection of a powerful solidarity and inspiration for the resilience of Ukrainians.
Exchange of experience becomes a guarantee of partnerships between libraries, the leaders of the library business in Ukraine are asserting themselves, because they are convinced that they can not only adopt experience, but also share valuable developments and inspire other countries.
The team of the "Library Country" is grateful to the library community of Ukraine and Great Britain for their attention to the event and is making efforts to multiply such activities in the future.
