Ukrainian bookshelves have been opened at the National Library of the Philippines and the Ukrainian House in Batumi. The news was announced by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The shelves feature both contemporary and classical literature, poetry, textbooks, as well as works by authors who are currently defending the country on the frontlines. Among them are fairy tales by writer, artist, and now serviceman Valeriy Puzik.
“This is what makes our books, other creative works, and our entire culture more relevant than ever. And relevant everywhere – because this is the culture of a people defending life, freedom, and dignity. Not only for themselves, but for everyone, as they are standing up for the very human right to all of these,” the President’s wife noted.
Overall, in June, Ukrainian bookshelves were launched in seven countries around the world – bringing the total number to 61. In particular, the Consulate General of Ukraine in Kraków opened shelves at the Municipal Public Library in Tarnów and at the County and City Public Library in Rybnik. The Embassy of Ukraine in Korea opened a bookshelf in the oldest public library in the country, located in Seoul. The Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary, together with the Consulate in Nyíregyháza, set up a shelf at the Nyírbátor City Library. The Consulate of Ukraine in Porto (Portugal) launched one at the Municipal Library Coimbra, and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto did the same at the Brampton Library.
The First Lady expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ukrainian Book Institute, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, as well as to the representatives of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions around the world for their help in implementing the project.
“We continue our work so that the world can discover Ukrainian literature, so that Ukrainians in different countries have access to it, and so that our words bring together everyone who is open to human values, knowledge, and truth,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
The Ukrainian Bookshelf project, implemented under the patronage of the First Lady, now includes more than 260 shelves containing over 57,000 books.