The National Library of Ukraine for Children hosted a family celebration for friends.

Every year, on the eve of Christmas, the Library hosts a family celebration for friends and partners who have joined forces throughout the year to implement collaborative projects aimed at supporting the main library for children and children's libraries across the country. These efforts have included co-organizing and sponsoring numerous nationwide creative competitions for young readers. Recently, the library welcomed representatives from various organizations, including the Secretariat of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, the National Olympic Committee, the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine, the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Book Institute, the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine, the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Studio of Chronicle and Documentary Films," the NGO "InPolit," a representative of the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Epiphanius, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, as well as military personnel, publishers, writers, and business representatives.

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At the beginning of the celebration, guests and librarians formed a large circle, holding hands to feel the warmth and familial unity that is so essential during this challenging time for Ukraine and its people. A moment of silence was observed in honor of those who have passed away while fighting for the freedom and independence of our country.

This year, the library prepared a rich program for both children and adults. It kicked off with a concert of Christmas melodies performed by the orchestra of military unit 3030 of the 25th Brigade of Public Order Protection named after Prince Askold of the National Guard of Ukraine, who have long been friends of the library.

Guests were greeted by Alla Gordienko, the General Director of the National Library of Ukraine for Children, who emphasized that with the friends and partners the library has, any powerful and fantastic dreams and projects can be realized. Over the past year, dozens of all-Ukrainian and international competitions were held, and their winners and participants received valuable gifts and books thanks to our co-organizers.

Notably invited were well-known long-time friends of the library in Ukraine – People’s Artist of Ukraine Yevhen Nyshchuk and television journalist Andriy Koval, who highlighted the importance of partnership with the country’s main children’s library for the benefit of the most valuable – the younger generation of Ukraine.

Father Vitaliy, appointed by Metropolitan Epiphaniy to carry out an honorary mission, awarded Alla Gordienko, the General Director of the National Library for Children, with the Order of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga for her sacrificial love and dedicated work for the benefit of the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its devout people.

Blessed certificates for merits before the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its devout people were also awarded to librarians Yevhenia Basirova and Nataliia Avdieieva by the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphaniy.

Military personnel are always important and awaited guests at the library, and this festive day was no exception. Taras Bubnov, the commander of the 321st Separate Territorial Defense Battalion, attended the celebration, and the librarians presented him with a gift – an art object made from an artifact. The shell casing was painted by an artist from the library.

During the concert program, the host invited the audience to participate in a unique Christmas-library initiation – a family quiz, during which new visitors could learn about the library, become interested in its unusual locations, and unique services, and exchange their knowledge for prizes.

The Christmas music performed by the musicians warmed the hearts of all present, creating a festive atmosphere of the holiday season. Both children and adults sang along and danced to some familiar tunes.

At the end of the first part of the Christmas-New Year gathering, the host encouraged guests to explore various sections and corners of the library, which had prepared library-book entertainment for younger visitors.

Those visiting the library for the first time had the chance to discover the largest children's library in the country – a space that is surprising, delightful, and enchanting. Adult visitors reminisced about their own childhood visits to libraries and marveled at the wonders created by children's librarians. They preserve library traditions while simultaneously needing modern children. Yevhen Nyshchuk himself decided to assist the librarians and organize a celebration for the kids.

After the book entertainment, attendees moved to the library's secret nook, where the library greeting "Inspiration of Christmas Carols" marked the beginning of the second part of the New Year-Christmas gathering.

The hostess of the winter wonderland presented each adult with a New Year’s prediction, which was accompanied by a reading plan for the next year. The plan included three books selected by the librarians: a children's book (for family reading), an adult book, and a psychological book – addressing parenting issues or the very relevant topic of supporting mental health today. This was done with the hope that all the books collected by the librarians would be not only interesting but also useful.

At the end of the celebration, an auction of war artifacts transformed by the hands of readers and librarians into art objects was held. The funds from the auction will be used for charitable support of wounded soldiers, which is a focus of the National Library of Ukraine for Children.

The culmination of the celebration was the Christmas magic – the incredible transformation of a book cake, assembled at the beginning of the meeting with books gifted by guests to support children's libraries in Ukraine affected by military actions, into a real delicious cake. Friends who attended the celebration were treated to it.