At the end of last year, the Donetsk Regional Children's Library received 317 copies of books – a priceless gift from Valery Romanko, head of the Donetsk Regional Organisation of the National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine, Honorary Local Historian of Ukraine, and Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences.
These are not just books – they are the voices of Donetsk region, its memory, its living word.
The library received works by local writers: Ivan Kostyra, Stepan Zhukovsky, Yuriy Dotsenko, Oleksandr Yarovoy and many others, as well as regional local history almanacs and magazines. In a separate parcel, the library received books by authors from Sloviansk – Oleksandr Dudka, Tetiana Chala, Mykola Sirobaba, Volodymyr Hlushchenko, Oleksandr Romanko, numerous author's editions and works by other artists from Donetsk region.
All these books were donated from personal libraries with great responsibility and a sincere desire to preserve the cultural heritage of their native land. They will become an important part of shaping the local identity of Donetsk Oblast for readers, introducing young people to the history, culture and spiritual space of the region through the prism of local history.
Library Director Yulia Vasilenko emphasised: "Preserving the literary heritage of Donetsk Oblast is our priority. That is why every book that the Donetsk Regional Library for Children receives is of special value and is a real treasure," and expressed her sincere gratitude to Valery Ivanovich for his trust, concern and love for Donetsk region. Together, we are not just preserving books – we are preserving the memory, identity and future of our region.