Korolenko State Scientific Library

The Kharkiv State Scientific Library, one of the largest and most prestigious libraries in Ukraine and Europe, has recently experienced significant damage. As a leading informational and sociocultural center in Kharkiv, the library serves as a hub for digital education, intellectual communication among patrons, and informal education for librarians.

Boasting an extensive information base of national importance, the library houses a collection of over 7 million items and thousands of pages of digitized documents. It offers patrons equal access to information, knowledge, and cultural heritage through 13 reading rooms, various interest clubs, and free computer literacy courses.

Established in 1830, the library has a storied history, and its main building, designed by renowned Ukrainian architect Oleksiy Beketov, stands as a testament to Neo-Renaissance architecture. Completed in 1901, the majestic building is now recognized as a national monument of architecture and urban planning. The library complex also comprises a multi-story book depository, a readers' building, and a service building.

Tragically, the library complex has sustained extensive damage, with the main most destroyed building. Nearly all windows have been shattered, interior doors broken, and the structural integrity compromised. This devastating event has dealt a significant blow to the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Ukraine, leaving the future of this historic institution uncertain.