Recognition for Odesa Library: New Horizons in Cultural Exchange
The Odesa National Scientific Library has achieved first place in the annual Goethe-Institut Ukraine competition among partner libraries. The German reading room was awarded for its vibrant cultural projects implemented throughout 2024. Library director Iryna Biryukova shared insights about the participation and victory in an interview with Suspilne.
The German reading room at the Odesa Scientific Library was recognized as the best among fifteen partner libraries of the Goethe-Institut in Ukraine. The award acknowledged not only consistency but also the variety of events: from educational meetings and language courses to children's games, music events, and new book arrivals.
As a prize, the Goethe-Institut presented a collection of books in Ukrainian from the "Best Book Design" collection, as well as new publications for the "German Shelf" — a permanent display of contemporary German literature.
Support and Partnership
Special recognition was given to the team and librarian of the German reading room, Viktoriya Zayets, who undertook an internship in Germany. The German reading room is part of a larger library network. Each year, a new focus is highlighted — this time, Odesa was in the spotlight. However, the most important aspect is not the title, but the continuous progress, emphasized library director Iryna Biryukova:
"It's not about winning. It's about the opportunity to be useful to people — and to change the world around us through knowledge."
Daily Work, Not Just Participation
The competition victory was not the goal, as there was no formal participation in the usual sense, explained Iryna Biryukova. According to her, librarians simply did what they do best — organized events, training sessions, cultural meetings, even during the war.
"There was no such competition that we explicitly applied for. We were just doing our work. The project has been ongoing for 25 years: a tripartite agreement was made between the library, Goethe-Institut, and the organization "Bavarian House Odesa", which provided the venue for meetings. Then the project developed, incorporating the library's available resources: staffing, space, and technical aspects," Biryukova noted.
The demand for knowledge has not waned; on the contrary, it has grown: people seek knowledge, communication, and support.
A Bridge Between Cultures
Today, the German reading room is not just about language courses or bookshelves, but a full-fledged space for intercultural interaction: with literature, music, culinary arts, and traditions.
"This is indeed a project that is much broader than just library work or providing informational-library services. It's about a much deeper process: understanding culture in all its manifestations, the culture of the partner country through literature, music, and familiarization with intangible cultural heritage, such as the history of cuisine," explains Biryukova.
Meetings are held for people of all ages: children listen to fairy tales, while older participants engage in discussions, training, and themed events. And all of this is provided free of charge.
