Kharkiv's 60 public libraries completely destroyed by war

Natalia Petrenko, director of Kharkiv State Scientific Library, writes that since February 2022, 60 public libraries have been completely destroyed and 180 buildings damaged in Russian attacks on Kharkiv. Despite constant bombardment, libraries continue operations in metro shelters, hospitals, and refugee support projects. Libraries have become community support centers, documenting war events and fighting Russian propaganda.

Natalia Petrenko, director of Kharkiv State Scientific Library, describes how Ukraine's second-largest city's cultural infrastructure has suffered catastrophic losses as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion, and how libraries have nonetheless become frontlines of resistance and community support.

Scale of destruction

As of 24 February 2022, 782 libraries were operating in Kharkiv. By now, 60 public libraries have been completely destroyed, 180 buildings have sustained various kinds of damage, and there are no longer any libraries operating in ten city districts. Across the city, 13,000 buildings have been damaged, of which over 9,000 are residential buildings.

The destruction of the Pivnichna Saltivka library has become a tragic symbol. Located on the first floor of a residential building on Natalia Uzh Street, photographs of the destroyed 16-storey building circulated around the world. The library, which in February 2022 was still planning exhibitions by young artists and discussing development strategies with city officials, now lies in ruins.

Particularly painful has been damage to the V. G. Korolenko Kharkiv State Scientific Library (KHRTR), Ukraine's largest and oldest library. Rocket attacks on neighbouring buildings destroyed the roof, skylights, 545 windows and devastated the heating system. Conditions in storage facilities regarding temperature, humidity and security have deteriorated, endangering irreplaceable document collections.

Losses as people

Petrenko finds the loss of colleagues particularly painful. In January 2023, Valeri Romanovski, a librarian at KHRTR who defended Ukraine under the nickname Kozak and was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, third class, died from severe wounds. In March 2023, Jana Poljanska, head librarian of a radio engineering college, was killed along with her daughter and mother in a rocket strike on a residential building.

Resistance and new ways of working

Despite harsh realities, Kharkiv's libraries have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Librarians are providing services operating out of metro shelters, bomb shelters and hospitals. Thousands of children attend classes in underground "metro schools". Refugee support projects are being implemented and cultural and educational activities are offered in care homes and social centres.

Special attention is paid to children and young people: a shelter enables Kharkiv Children's and Young People's Library to participate in educational projects such as ESTEAM youth education centre Ko_Laba and youth centre Litera. High school students are offered free preparation for university entrance exams.

Mobile library and international support

The library bus has become a strategic work tool. This mobile library was donated to KHRTR by Tallinn Central Library as humanitarian aid within the framework of international partnership. The initiative is supported by campaigns "3,000 books for the library bus" and "Mobile library for supporting communities in Kharkiv region", aimed particularly at communities near the frontline.

Preserving memory and countering propaganda

Libraries have also taken on the role of documenting war events. More than 40 librarians are collecting photographs, videos and text materials from public internet sources. By January 2024, over 100 GB of data has been archived. In addition, experts manage social media channels and contribute to creating correct content for Wikipedia articles, acting as a bulwark against Russian propaganda.

As Petrenko writes, war has served as a catalyst: libraries have transformed from traditional buildings into flexible community centres. "A people that continues to read even under bombs is undefeatable," she notes.