Open to everyone
The library is created for the community in all its diversity: children, young people, families, veterans, older people and people with disabilities.
Libraries for all
The “Libraries for all” pilot programme is a national initiative to rethink and transform Ukraine’s public libraries into modern, accessible and multifunctional community spaces.
A space of opportunity
A place to study, work, gain knowledge, meet others and bring your own initiatives to life.
Accessibility as the norm
Barrier-free infrastructure, clear wayfinding, digital services and solutions that keep every visitor comfortable.
The heart of the community
More than a library. A space for meeting, culture, co-creation and growth that helps communities become stronger and more united.
Why it matters
The problem
11 thousand
libraries operate in communities across Ukraine. Yet many of them were built for a different era and no longer fully meet the needs of people and communities, because they:
- have outdated infrastructure and are physically inaccessible to some visitors;
- do not account for the needs of different groups of people;
- do not support modern formats of learning, development, work and interaction;
- do not help rebuild social ties within communities;
- do not use their potential as centres of community development.
The solution
We are giving libraries back a meaningful role in community life and building a model that can be scaled across Ukraine.
The library becomes:
- a modern community hub;
- a space of knowledge and opportunity;
- a place to learn, work and connect;
- an accessible environment for everyone;
- a platform for rebuilding social ties.
Programme initiator
Supported by:
Tetiana Berezhna
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy, Minister of Culture of Ukraine
The programme team
The “Libraries for all” pilot programme is implemented by PRO PM PROSVITA FUND in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and [RE]MEMBERS, with support from the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF).
Nataliia Prysukhina
Programme Director
Mykola Kocherhan
Project Lead
Svitlana Pyvovarova
Operations Manager
Alina Tytarchuk
Finance Manager
About the “Libraries for all” programme
What we change in libraries
The “Libraries for all” pilot programme invites us to rethink the existing library network as part of modern public infrastructure. Preserving the cultural and educational role of the library, we extend it into a space of knowledge, learning, interaction, culture and community development.
Instead of building new infrastructure, the programme helps unlock the potential of what communities already have: their spaces, teams, trust and the institutional presence of libraries.
This is not about renovating libraries. It is about creating libraries that become centres of knowledge, interaction, opportunity and community development
Pillars of the programme
Co-creation with the community
We start with people. Through focus groups, interviews and dialogue with the community we identify residents’ real needs and design the library around them.
Universal design (barrier-free access)
An approach that accounts for human diversity from the very start and helps remove physical, informational and service barriers.
Ray Oldenburg’s “third place” concept
The library becomes a space beyond home and work where people can learn, talk, interact and feel they belong to the community.
The Danish library model
The model of a modern library brings together four spaces — knowledge, learning, creativity and meeting — creating an open environment for community development.
Trauma-informed design
An approach that takes into account the experience of war and traumatic events. It draws on current research, including Texas A&M University, and helps create spaces that strengthen the sense of safety, comfort and support.
Best practices from Ukraine and the world
We studied the successful experience of Ukrainian, Danish and other European libraries and public spaces in order to adapt proven solutions to the Ukrainian context and the needs of communities.
How it works
-
01
Choosing pilot libraries, talking to communities, identifying needs
-
02
Accessibility audit and research into the space, its services and users
-
03
Developing concepts, training architects in Denmark
-
04
Design, construction and transformation of the libraries
-
05
Information and outreach campaign, building partnerships
-
06
Scaling the transformation model to other communities across Ukraine
pilot communities
design stage: detailed design
Rohatyn Central Library
Ternopil region
occupies the historic building of the former town hall in the very centre of Rohatyn. It serves the Rohatyn urban community, home to more than 31 thousand residents. Within the project the library is to become a modern, inclusive space that combines the heritage of a historic building with new opportunities for learning, connection and community development
design stage: detailed design
Bilohiria Central Library
(Khmelnytskyi region)
occupies a modernist House of Culture, one of the architectural landmarks of the community. The library serves the Bilohiria territorial community in Khmelnytskyi region, home to almost 19 thousand residents. Within the project the library space is rethought as a modern, accessible and inclusive place for learning, connection and community development.
We have already started transforming two libraries. Our goal is dozens of libraries every year.
We invite partners to join this change.
Become a partner
Training in Denmark
Training is an important part of our programme.
In August 2026 the architects of the pilot libraries in Rohatyn and Bilohiria trained in Denmark in partnership with the Institute of Architecture and Design of the Royal Danish Academy, the Danish Library Association and the Danish Association of Architects.
Visits to libraries in Copenhagen and Aarhus, Dokk1 among them, together with lectures and workshops, helped adapt the best Danish practices to the Ukrainian context and lay the groundwork for the future decisions in the pilot libraries.
Partners
Join the projectSupported by
Programme managing partner
Programme and methodology partner
Communities and pilot libraries
Architecture practices
Ukrainian partners
International partners
