The Odessa National Scientific Library has claimed first place in the annual Goethe-Institut Ukraine competition among partner libraries. The German reading room was awarded for its vibrant cultural initiatives carried out throughout 2024. Library director Iryna Biriukova shared insights about the project and its success.
The German reading room at the Odessa Scientific Library was recognized as the best among fifteen partner libraries of the Goethe-Institut in Ukraine. They highlighted not only consistency but also the variety of events: from educational meetings and language courses to children's games, music, and new book releases.
As a prize, the Goethe-Institut provided a collection of books in Ukrainian from the "Best Book Design" series, 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 room, Viktoriia Zaiets, who had an internship in Germany. The German reading room is part of a larger library network. Each year, a new space is highlighted — this time it was Odessa. However, the key is not the title but the continuous forward movement, emphasized director Iryna Biriukova:
"It's not about winning. It's about being useful to people — and changing the world around us through knowledge."
Not participation, but daily work
Winning the competition was not the goal, as there was no traditional participation format, explained Iryna Biriukova. According to her, librarians simply did what they do best — organized events, training, cultural meetings, even during the war.
"There was no explicitly announced competition for which we applied. We were just doing our job. The project is already 25 years old: a tripartite agreement was signed between the library, Goethe-Institut, and the organization "Bavarian House Odessa". The latter provided the venue for the meetings. The project then developed, incorporating the resources available at the library, including human, spatial, and technical opportunities," Biriukova noted.
The demand for knowledge has not diminished, the director assured — on the contrary, it has grown: people want 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 books, music, cuisine, and traditions.
"This is actually a project that is much broader than just library work or the provision of information services. It involves a 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," Biriukova explains.
Meetings are organized for people of all ages: stories for children, discussions, training, and themed events for adults. And all of this is free of charge.
