Ukraine's network of public libraries has contracted by nearly a quarter over the past seven years, falling from 16,800 to 12,900 libraries, according to figures cited in a column published by LIGA.net.
The decline draws attention to an institution that often serves as a person's first entry point into the world of books, the column argues. Libraries remain the largest book infrastructure in the country, particularly in small towns and communities where they are frequently the only place residents can access contemporary literature free of charge.
The column makes the case that a strong book market depends on infrastructure that helps people become readers, and that libraries are one of its most important components.
