On September 16, a grand opening of the "Ukrainian Book Shelf" took place in Barcelona, Spain. This initiative is part of a project aimed at introducing Ukrainian literature to the world.
Over 800 books for children and adolescents, along with the bookshelves, were donated to five libraries: Biblioteca Sagrada Família, Biblioteca Nou Barris – Aurora Díaz Plaja, Biblioteca Horta-Can Mariner, Biblioteca La Sagrera-Marina Clotet, and Biblioteca Ramon d’Alòs-Moner by the Ukrainian General Consulate in Barcelona.
The collection includes works by Ukrainian classics and contemporary authors, as well as Ukrainian translations of Miguel de Cervantes, Walter Scott, Homer, Hans Christian Andersen, O. Henry, and others. Additionally, with the support of the NGO Sensorika, two Ukrainian anthologies have been translated into Spanish. During the opening ceremony, held at the San Martí library named after Gabriel García Márquez (recognized as the best library in the world in 2023), Ukrainian Consul General Artem Vorobiev emphasized the importance of books in maintaining a connection with the homeland. He noted that books in libraries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas "bring knowledge about us to our friends and facilitate communication with the homeland for Ukrainians far from home. Furthermore, books also play a role in the liberation struggle against Russian invaders, conveying the truth about Ukraine, our culture, and history."
During the event, Ukrainian students heard from Catalan writer Santi Rius about the fascinating story behind the publication of his book "The Tree of Life," which has also been translated into Ukrainian.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Book Institute, under the patronage of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
