Solutions from Ukraine: “Unbreakable Library” art shelter emerges from destroyed Honchar Library in Kherson

Currently, there are limited places in Kherson for residents to socialize. Rubryka shares a project that aims to address this issue, which was successfully implemented in a city that is often under attack.

What is the problem?

Every day, the city of Kherson, located near the front, is being bombarded by the Russians from the left bank of the Dnipro River. The invaders destroy local businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and libraries. Innocent civilians are losing their lives. There doesn't seem to be any safe place left here, as danger can strike any moment from any direction.

However, Kherson continues to stand strong, fighting and remaining hopeful for victory. The resilient residents of Kherson have adapted, worked together, and supported one another, implementing fresh ideas and projects to ensure that neither bombing nor fear can hinder the progress and growth of their beloved city or their lives.

What is the solution?

The Oles Honchar Kherson Regional Universal Scientific Library, which the invaders are constantly bombarding, has established the "Unbreakable Library" art shelter in Kherson.

The primary aim is to establish a secure environment for residents. Within the art shelter, visitors have access to books, the internet, social interaction, and various cultural and educational activities suitable for children and adults.

How does it work?

Library +

^{A visitor of the "Unbreakable Library" art shelter uses a 3d pen to draw.}

The "Unbreakable Library" concept originated at the Oles Honchar Kherson Regional Library and was discussed with frequent visitors and community members. Its realization was made possible through the "House of Europe" program, which supports the growth of culture, creative industries, social entrepreneurship, education, and youth engagement in Ukraine. The library's grant proposal, submitted at the end of last year, was chosen as one of 15 recipients out of 421 other projects focused on preserving Ukraine's cultural heritage.

Despite all the difficulties that the residents of the front-line city face daily, the library team found the strength to implement their plans.

"The laborious but pleasant work is over. Our art shelter, "Unbreakable Library," is ready for visitors. We have been preparing to please the Kherson community for four months with a modern and necessary library space. We believe that this site will be the first step on the way to restoring the culture of the Kherson region," the library team said.

The "Unbreakable Library" art shelter was unveiled on March 21 in a room located in a secure residential area of the city.

The art shelter offers various services, such as a library filled with new Ukrainian literature for children and adults and modern equipment for work and leisure purposes in the city that has been deoccupied. Some of the equipment available includes laptops, an interactive whiteboard and table, a charging station, Starlink, 3d pens, and gadgets to aid in learning a foreign language. This is just a partial list of the site's offerings.

Here, members of the Kherson community can fulfill their cultural, informational, educational, social, and daily needs. Furthermore, this area will serve as a venue for intellectual exchange, casual learning, and the realization of other community-driven projects.

"Phoenix rising from the ashes"

The innovative project for the Kherson region was implemented by specialists who lost their library due to Russian shelling but did not give up and moved on.

"The logo of the Oles Honchar Kherson Regional Library depicts a bird. For all the years of working in the book collection, no one knew what kind of bird it was. But now I know for sure that it is a legendary phoenix that rises from the ashes," the project manager, deputy director of the library, Oksana Shestakova, says.

The local authorities supported the initiative. The Deputy Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Volodymyr Kliutsevskyi, noted the importance and necessity of such initiatives for the de-occupied city.

"The main value of our city is indomitable and professional people. And this project is a vivid example of that," Vladyslav Kondratov, the head of the Dnipro district council in the city of Kherson, said about the "Unbreakable Library" library space.

Does it really work?

^{The boy will test the capabilities of the interactive panel in the art shelter}

According to project manager Oksana Shestakova, the "Unbreakable Library" can accommodate a maximum of 25 visitors at once. The first event for residents of Kherson will take place on Friday, March 29. The program features an interactive quiz, an introduction to the German language through the Kamishibai theater technique, and an English conversation club for women raising children with disabilities. Each of these activities was carefully selected based on requests from potential visitors.

"We are really looking forward to the continuation of art therapy practices, sand therapy, bead weaving, reading with Kimiko, the favorite pet of our inclusive theater," says Nataliia Haidai from Kherson, whose family was among the regular visitors to the library before the war.

Visiting the space will take place by prior individual appointment, which minimizes the risk of crowding in one place. Invitations to cultural and educational events will also take place through closed communication channels, which also negates the leakage of information about the event.

Currently, one can do this by accessing the library's official Facebook page and sending a private message. In the future, a Google form will be made available on the library's website and social media platforms.
For reference:

It should be noted that the Ukrainian Book Institute launched an interactive map of the book ecosystem in Ukraine.