THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE LIBRARY IN WARTIME: PAST AND PRESENT

Abstract

As instruments of guaranteed knowledge, safeguarding memory, diversity and cultural identity of people, libraries during all its existence have been severely attacked during military confrontations. With the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the issue of preserving cultural values, including libraries, in the territories suffering from hostilities becomes very urgent, because russians are trying to destroy Ukrainian people, culture and values. The purpose of our research was to find possible ways of library activity and the reservation of their collections during military operations, based on a review of history of the struggle of libraries for the reservation of their collections during wars and on consideration of the activity of the American Library Association and its Library War Service, as one of the most important institution, focused on helping libraries and soldiers during wartime. Having considered the history of the activities of libraries during the war, it can be noted that the main role in the reservation of the funds was played by the library employees, because they understood the significance of the collections and, in some cases, saved cultural values with their own hands. A consideration of the activities of the American Library Service’s War Library makes it clear how important it is to help soldiers and people during wartime by distributing books and knowledge that prove beneficial to support morale. We also noted the role of the Ukrainian Library Association, which, together with the American Library Association, currently helps librarians and library workers by collecting donations for the Ukrainian library community, which is facing the challenges of war. In addition, in our opinion, one of the most important opportunities for the reservation of library funds during the war may be an attempt to create an organization in Ukraine like the Hill Museum and the Manuscript Library, which will photograph and catalog the collections of manuscripts and rare publications from the libraries of throughout Ukraine, especially in small towns or villages, where there are publications that characterize the history of their specific district or region and which are impossible to found elsewhere. Due to the fact that Russia is trying to destroy the Ukrainian nation, the reservation of such key values of each region becomes very important for the consolidation of Ukrainian society and the further cultural development of the Ukrainian nation throughout the territory of Ukraine.