Ukrainian Bookshelf project unveils large collection of Ukrainian literature at Istanbul university

Istanbul University officially opened the second Ukrainian book collection in Turkey within the framework of the "Ukrainian Bookshelf" project.

The international Books without Borders project is already implemented in 37 countries, having about 44,000 books on 170 shelves, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska said.

It is very symbolic, as Istanbul University is home to the first and only Ukrainian language and literature major in Turkey. The establishment of the Ukrainian Bookshelf is an important step in promoting cultural exchange and popularization of Ukrainian literature among students and staff of the university, said Ukraine's Consul General Roman Nedilskyi at the opening ceremony.

Professors and students of the Department of Ukrainian Studies at Istanbul University and members of the Ukrainian community in Istanbul attended the event.

We are doing everything to make books in Ukrainian and books about Ukraine accessible to everyone! We thank the Rector of Istanbul University Osman Bülent Zulfikar for his support and fruitful cooperation, the Consul General added.

The Ukrainian Bookshelf project is being implemented by Ukraine's MFA, Culture Ministry, and the Ukrainian Book Institute. The project was planned before the start of the full-scale war in Russia.

The project is aimed at spreading Ukrainian literature in original and translated versions in the world's leading libraries.

We want people to know about Ukraine from primary sources about who we are, what we think, what we grew up with, what our roots are. I think this is the basis for understanding other countries and other people, the First Lady Olena Zelenska said.