Librarians from the Donetsk region participated in the 7th OdessaBibliosummit—an international platform for communication, dialogue, and discussion of current issues in the professional practice of librarians.
The theme of this year’s summit was “Promoting Books and Reading: Experiences, Traditions, and Prospects for Developing a Culture of Reading.”
The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Odessa National Scientific Library. Partners included the State Archival Service of Ukraine, national libraries of Ukraine, educational and cultural institutions, the “How Are You?” mental health program, and specialized medical and library organizations.
The Granitne Village Library of the Myrne Community shared its experience with the meeting participants via an online session.
In her presentation titled “A Library of Taste and Adventure,” Lyubov Poleva, head of the Granitne Village Library, shared her experience of reviving the library after the occupation and the loss of its collections. She described how the library continued to operate without its own premises—in an apartment, in the yard, and outdoors—creating new formats for engaging with readers.
The focus was on creative activities for children: book picnics, quests, themed gatherings, as well as projects combining literature, culinary arts, and the cultural heritage of the Greeks of Nadazovia. The speaker also highlighted the creation of the fairy tale “Shurshunychky,” language projects for children, and initiatives to honor Taras Shevchenko and commemorate the Chernobyl tragedy.
The event also featured a presentation on the implementation of the “Urumskaya: The Living Word” project, which aims to preserve the language and cultural heritage of the Greeks of Nadazovye through modern educational and digital formats.
All these projects differ in form, but they are united by a common idea: children are drawn to reading through curiosity, play, creativity, and a desire to discover new things.
The summit speakers highlighted the ideas of the Granitne Library. It was proposed to involve the Department of Education in the summit, as teachers also greatly need the librarians’ innovative ideas.
Based on materials from the Myrne Village Military Administration