A 'Unified Electronic Library' Pilot Program Is Now Underway in Kyiv
Kyiv has started a pilot initiative called the "Unified Electronic Library" to bring the city's public libraries together in a single digital environment. The project was unveiled by Valentyn Mondryivskyi, deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration. Its goal is to modernize library information systems that have not been updated since 2014, a large portion of which relied on outdated software of Russian origin.
What the New System Offers
Three children's libraries are currently connected to the network:
- Central Children's Library of Kyiv named after Taras Shevchenko
- Children's Library No. 2 in Desnianskyi district
- Children's Library No. 119 in Desnianskyi district
A library card issued at one of these locations works at all three, giving readers easier access to shared resources. More children's libraries are being added, and the platform already supports consolidated statistics and analytics.
The system includes a personal reader account, a unified electronic catalog, and a book reservation feature that is still in development. Talking about the long-term vision, Mondryivskyi said:
“Eventually, a person will have one library card for the city's libraries, be able to see available books online, and reserve the titles they need.”Serhii Anzhyiak stressed what the project means for library staff:
“For librarians, this is above all a simplification of daily work, automation of processes, and access to one shared database.”
The next phase will connect the system with the Kyiv Digital platform and the Kyiv Services Portal. Viktoriia Itskovych noted that “in the future, users will have their own reader dashboard, browse a single electronic catalog of all connected libraries, search for books, and reserve copies for themselves and their children.” Digitally integrated library networks of this kind have been used abroad for years, and Kyiv is now building its own up-to-date version.
Bringing the "Unified Electronic Library" to life could substantially improve access to library collections, especially for children, while also cutting down on manual work for librarians. The move reflects global trends in digitalization and library network integration, making it a significant step in the modernization of Ukraine's cultural institutions. As more libraries join and integrations with other digital services expand, users are likely to see broader functionality and a renewed interest in reading.
As Kyiv embraces modern technology with its unified digital library initiative, the literary landscape in Ukraine is also evolving in response to recent challenges. In light of the significant loss of 10 million books due to Russian attacks, the introduction of book sales on trains reflects a creative solution to ensure access to literature remains robust and accessible for all citizens. This shift highlights the resilience of Ukrainian culture amidst adversity.