Unbreakable Libraries: 25,000 books from the UK arrived to Ukraine
Photo courtesy of Mykhailo Palinchaksi
The books, delivered to PEN Ukraine through a collaborative initiative involving the Book Aid International charity fund, English PEN, and PEN International, are now ready for distribution to libraries across Ukraine.
14 December: Over 25,000 (12 tons) of multi-genre children’s, adult, and young adult books in English were delivered at the end of November from London to Kyiv where the office of PEN Ukraine is located. From here, the books will be distributed to Ukrainian libraries, according to their requests, via Nova Post, one of the partners of the initiative. Some books will be distributed during literary volunteering trips to frontline and de-occupied territories.
"Through the Unbreakable Libraries initiative, where 25,000 books from the UK have reached Ukraine, we witness the transformative power of literature as a source of solace and unity in times of adversity. My heartfelt gratitude to the publishers and the collaborative efforts of Book Aid International, English PEN, and PEN International, for bringing this literary support to the people of Ukraine." - Romana Cacchioli, Executive Director of PEN International
An open call was announced this August for libraries to apply to receive books in English language. Since then, the team has received and processed over 800 applications. The most sought-after categories include children’s and young adult literature, school books for studying English, and adult non-fiction books. Requests for books vary from as few as three copies to as many as 5,000. Currently, the PEN Ukraine team is analyzing the applications, sorting the copies, and preparing book packages for delivery. Priority will be given to libraries that have been damaged by Russia's war against Ukraine.
While submitting, all the libraries were required to present their plan for the promotion of English-language literature.
“The promotion of books will be directly targeted at the audience for whom we are requesting the books, including students of philology, children attending English classes, and the participants of English-speaking club. Information will be disseminated directly and to a wider audience through social media and the library website. Season ticket holders will have the option to read the books at home,” explains Inga Khorzhevska, director of Mykolaiv L. Kropyvnytskyi Central Adult Library.
Dozens of the UK’s top publishing houses, such as Penguin Random House, Oxford University Press, Hachette UK, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Unbound, and others, have dispatched their books to Ukraine. The books include children's and young adult English-language editions (fiction and non-fiction literature, and schoolbooks for studying English), and adult literature (classics, biographies, memoirs, reportages, essays, books for self-development, and contemporary English-language prose).
“For people living amidst the war in Ukraine, we know that libraries have become places of safety and refuge for communities, as well as havens where reading and learning can continue. I would like to warmly thank all the publishers who have supported this shipment and donated books to support all the work we do,” says Alison Tweed, Book Aid International Chief Executive.
Authors Alexander McCall Smith, Edmund de Waal, and Elif Shafak became ambassadors of the initiative in Great Britain. “Maybe books cannot fight against guns or bombs, but they can do something incredibly powerful: they help us realise that we are not alone. That we are not forgotten or forsaken. That our voices matter. That we have brothers and sisters, we have kindred spirits all across the world. Inside the pages of a book we find the whole humanity,” states writer and columnist Elif Shafak.
Authors Sofia Andrukhovych, Andrii Bondar, and Svitlana Taratorina, along with filmmaker and actor Akhtem Seitablaiev, already become ambassadors of the initiative in Ukraine. All of them participated in sorting books and collecting packages for libraries. Photographer Mykhailo Palinchak made a report from day one of work at the warehouse.
Eastman Film Production, jointly with TRO Media and the Crimean House State Enterprise, is producing a documentary about the initiative.
“The social project which has united hundreds of people, arose from a spontaneous conversation. The idea came instantly, and our British partners expressed their sincere desire to help. After six months of joint work of PEN Ukraine, Book Aid International, PEN International, English PEN, and dozens of publishing houses, thousands of English-language books are now being transported from London to Kyiv, with dozens of writers personally packing, sending, and delivering books for hundreds of libraries across Ukraine. This is a story of individual decisions and contributions that collectively make a significant impact,” says Volodymyr Yermolenko, president of PEN Ukraine, philosopher, and writer.
Note to editors:
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Sabrina Tucci, PEN International, Communications and Campaigns Manager Sabrina.Tucci@pen-international.org
