We hope that these letters will receive a positive answer. Meanwhile, please do diffuse this information as widely as possible and send us details about libraries which may possibly be interested in implementing a programme of exchange.
Fourteen poets in fourteen days (Fjorten poeter på fjorten dager) a retelling work in support of Ukraine, at the initiative of the local libraries in Deichman.
Every day at two o’clock for two weeks we have published a retelling of one or more poems by Ukrainian poets.
You will find links to all the poems below.
The workshop lasted from Tuesday 15 to Monday 28 March.
Fourteen poets in fourteen days were supported by Free Word.
Kathleen Jamie, Scotland’s Makar, invites the people of Scotland to submit lines of poetry for a letter of fellowship and affinity with the people of Ukraine. Kathleen explains more about the making of this collective work in the video below:
Now at this frightening moment, we’d like to make a poem-letter, from Scotland to Ukraine.
Please send me a single line of poetry. One line, no more than twelve words, beginning with either ‘We share…’ or ‘Be brave…’. You can write in English, Scots or Gaelic.
Your line could be defiant or celebratory, quiet, fearful, heartfelt, supportive. Do try to capture some real things you value in the world; grandchildren, daffodils, football, beer – whatever; people the other side of the Continent will share that with you.
Having gathered together all the single lines, I will curate, arrange and assemble the poem. The finished work will take its own spirit. Once complete, it will be translated into the languages of Ukraine.
The finished poem will be available to all on the SPL website. And we anticipate public readings too. Please consider writing a single line of poetry, anonymously, for this collective, Scotland-wide poem-letter to Ukraine.
The deadline for submissions is midnight on Sunday, March 13th.
Kathleen Jamie
We will engage with representative Ukrainian organisations in Scotland on the development and circulation of this work.
We will engage with representative Ukrainian organisations in Scotland on the development and circulation of this work.
The Scottish Government has created a website to help Scots make donations to the humanitarian appeal in a secure and effective way: https://ready.scot/humanitarian
We the undersigned members of CONUL, the Consortium of National and University Libraries in Ireland, unequivocally condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We are gravely concerned about the humanitarian impact of the war on the lives of individuals and support the international efforts to assist Ukrainian people who have been forced to flee and those who have stayed.
University and national librarians, archivists and information professionals play a vital role in preserving and protecting collections of national and civic importance. Libraries are places of peace that signify inclusivity and the open sharing of knowledge. Ukrainian libraries house collections of national and international significance, relating to the development of Ukrainian culture, identity and language. It is critical that these collections are protected for the benefit and knowledge of all Ukrainians, future generations, and people across the world.
We call on political leaders everywhere to do all in their power to find a way to end the violence, and we stand united in support of Ukrainian people.
John McDonough, University Librarian, Dublin City University
Cathal McCauley, University Librarian, Maynooth University
Katherine McSharry, Acting Director, National Library of Ireland
John Cox, University Librarian, National University of Ireland, Galway
Jane O’Neill, University Librarian and Assistant Director of Information Services, Queens University Belfast
Kate Kelly, Director, Library Services, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine & Health Sciences
Barbara McCormack, Academy Librarian, Royal Irish Academy
Allison Kavanagh, Head of Library Services, Technological University Dublin
Helen Shenton, Librarian and College Archivist, Trinity College Dublin
Janet Peden, University Librarian & Deputy Chief Digital and Information Officer, Ulster University
Colette McKenna, Director of Library Services, University College Cork
Dr Sandra Collins, University Librarian, University College Dublin
Gobnait O’Riordan, Director of Library and Information Services, University of Limerick
BOBCATSSS Association (former EUCLID – European Association for Library and Information Education and Research) expresses solidarity and supports the EBLIDA, NAPLE, Public Libraries 2030 and their partners initiatives and Call – Libraries for Ukraine, on behalf of the community of the European LIS education and research units, members of the Bobcatsss Association.
The Federation of European Publishers condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. This attack is a threat not just to Europe but also to the entire world, to quote the European Parliament President’s words, Roberta Metsola.
Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and of the region, and especially with our colleagues; authors, translators, publishers, booksellers, and librarians. Keep writing, translating, publishing, and giving access to books. Even if they are a fragile rampart against the bombs, books and reading are essential to democracy.
Ukraine is a free country in a free Europe, and has the right to peace and democracy, for its citizens to live in safety, and to territorial integrity.
We are very fortunate that this year, Ukraine is one of the participating countries in the European Union Prize of Literature (EUPL). Ukraine is part of Creative Europe, of our common European family, and we believe that literature brings a message of peace and allows all European citizens to be “united in diversity”.
