On September 26, 2025, the IV Interregional Forum “Library – Center for Preserving National Memory” was held online, timed to coincide with All-Ukrainian Library Day.
The forum became an important professional platform for discussing the role of libraries in preserving historical memory, developing local history, and cultural heritage. The event was attended by library specialists from the Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk regions, as well as local historians, scientists, representatives of government agencies, educational institutions, and public organizations.
The forum was also supported by leading national libraries of Ukraine, in particular Alla Gordienko, Director General of the National Library of Ukraine for Children, and Oleg Serbin, Director General of the Yaroslav the Wise National Library of Ukraine.
The plenary session brought together a series of informative reports on local history initiatives, digital projects, recording military history, preserving intangible cultural heritage, and innovative approaches to library activities.
Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration, took part in the discussion and once again emphasized that in wartime, libraries not only fulfill an educational and cultural mission, but also become points of community unity, support, and preservation of local identity.
As part of the forum, on the occasion of the professional holiday, the best librarians and library teams of Donetsk region were awarded honorary diplomas and letters of thanks from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Donetsk Regional State Administration, the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration, and the Donetsk Regional Library for Children.
The forum helped strengthen professional interaction, exchange experiences, and form new partnerships, reaffirming that libraries remain important centers of culture, education, and national memory—even in the most turbulent times.