Library Archive

Archiving Ukrainian Library Destruction

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine led to destruction of over 200 libraries; and the number continues to grow. Of the libraries that are open, some offer residents employment assistance, literacy workshops, humanitarian aid and clothing; some have been converted to bomb shelters. Librarians also help community members find accurate information as well as recognize propaganda and fake news. The information component of the Russia-Ukraine war has turned the work of librarians into a critical defense mission.

This archive project commenced in 2022 with the Ukrainian team collecting evidence of crimes against libraries under the leadership of the Ukrainian Library Association (ULA). In 2023, 14 images and supportive information was shared with an American team of librarians who developed a digital platform to archive these materials. The team uses Omeka, an open-source platform that functions well in Ukraine, to curate the digital collection.

Images and descriptions are gathered and displayed by geographic region, both as individual records and as part of narrative displays that show the states of each destroyed and damaged library. The records include metadata in English and Ukrainian, which are constructed using Dublin Core standards.

Currently the American team works with the Ukrainian colleagues to add more images. The archive is not open to the public for security reasons, but can be accessed by invitation for librarians who wish to help or volunteer.

If you are interested in volunteering or joining our team, please contact Ulia Gosart: ulia.gosart@sjsu.edu