Crimean library seeks Ukrainian books (09/15/96)

Crimean library seeks Ukrainian books

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Although more than 1 million Ukrainians live in the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, there is not one Ukrainian-language library or reading room on the peninsula, according to a recent article in Ukraina Moloda, a popular national newspaper published in Kyiv.

Despite the fact that the Crimea's Ukrainian speakers appealed to the local Ministry of Culture in Symferopil on a number of occasions to help establish at least one Ukrainian library in the republic, these requests seem to have been ignored.

So, Ukrainian language speakers and Ukrainian literature enthusiasts have decided to take matters into their own hands and form a committee to create a Ukrainian language library in the Crimea.

To date, they have the space, they have the manpower - a number of people have said they would work free of charge at the library - but they have no Ukrainian-language books.

The organizing committee has issued an appeal for Ukrainian-language books. They are requesting that book donations be sent to :

First Ukrainian Public Library in the Crimea, vul. Kyivska 139a, Symferopil, 33050 Ukraine.

The organizers request that each book include an inscription or marker identifying the donor (individual or organization) so that future generations will know who helped the peninsula establish its first Ukrainian library.