The language of culture can quell the current feud between Ukraine and Russia: this recipe for improving Ukrainian-Russian relations comes from Valentyna Sliusarchuk, director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature. In her words, this library, which was recently opened in Moscow, is visited by tactful and polite people who take a lively interest in Ukraine. “We hope things will go further this way. Therefore, we want to hold many functions in Russian, so that those who take at least some interest can come and love Ukraine,” Sliusarchuk said.
She believes that Kyiv should encourage as many Ukrainians as possible to visit Moscow. “They should speak here and propagate Ukrainian culture in all conceivable ways so that as many Russians as possible can learn about our history and culture,” the director noted. She also added that the library hopes that publishers will be launching books and musical CDs here.
According to Sliusarchuk, the history of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow dates back to 1989, when a library in the capital of Russia set up a Ukrainian literature section. This section was gradually developing, but it was not until 2000 that the government of Moscow resolved to open a Ukrainian library at a certain address. Some time later it was decided to do this at a different address. Finally, in 2005 a resolution was passed to establish the library at 61, Trifonovskaya St., near the Rizhskaya subway station. The prefecture of Moscow’s Central Administrative District funded the renovation and purchase of furniture, and the library opened its door to readers on May 26.
Like any other metropolitan library, this one is funded by the government of Moscow. Sliusarchuk notes that the Ukrainian authorities, which had conducted talks on this matter for many years, made a major contribution to the opening of this library in Moscow. The library is now cooperating with many publishers and libraries of Ukraine, which donate a lot of books. “They also sell us cut-rate what they cannot gift us,” the director said. Now the library’s repository comprises 50,000 copies, half of which is books and the rest is periodicals, CDs, audio and video discs, and multimedia publications.
“Earlier, the library was mainly visited by old-age pensioners who were deprived of the native language and literature in Moscow. Now the situation is changing, and the circle of readers is widening,” Sliusarchuk points out. This happens for various reasons. On the one hand, some of the Moscow higher educational institutions have begun to teach the Ukrainian language, which brought a number of students to the library. On the other hand, the library is more and more visited by children who read fairy tales and children’s literature in Ukrainian. As the library has a lot of historical publications, it is also patronized by academics. The library also has a wide choice of economic and political literature. Therefore, people who, by nature of their occupation, should acquire knowledge in these areas become our readers. A lot of young people, who take interest in modern Ukrainian literature, are also coming to the library. Besides, there young readers who wish to learn the Ukrainian language.
P.S. The Day has presented the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow with its books Ukraina Incognita, Wars and Peace, Day abd Eternity of James Mace, and The Apocrypha of Klara Gudzyk.
