The Dnipropetrovsk Central Library has reported a hostile takeover. A conflict erupted between the institution's management and the youth organization "K12." The latter proposed "modernizing" the library to increase its user base. Library representatives reacted categorically to the youth movement's proposals, noting that they were doing well without outside assistance. Journalists from the program "Details" investigated whether this was true.
Dnipropetrovsk Central Library: How can it be improved? Posts with this content have recently appeared on social media. The authors were members of the city's youth movement. The activists proposed modernizing the library by installing Wi-Fi on all floors, organizing occasional meetings with famous writers, and creating a refreshment bar. They submitted their proposals to the city council.
"There are certainly interesting proposals, which I believe will be implemented upon detailed consideration. Anything that involves attracting more library users will be considered," says Lyudmila Kudryashova, Deputy Head of the City Department of Culture and Arts.
But the library's management isn't thrilled with the proposal. They say they're doing just fine without any outside help.
"We have new books. If people think the library is staffed by Soviet-style old ladies lending out old books, that's not true. I told the K12 guys this when they first came. I don't want our library to turn into a shopping mall," says Natalya Shelest, Deputy Director of the Central City Library.
According to Katerina, a member of the youth organization "K12," today's youth are accustomed to Wi-Fi and other little things that provide comfort.
"So you can have a cup of coffee. No one's talking about the restaurant business, like they're accusing us of wanting to open a shopping mall here," adds Katerina.
Regarding the installation of wireless internet throughout the building, librarians respond: there is no money.
"We only have Wi-Fi on the first floor right now. This is due to funding," says Larisa Savran, director of the Central City Hospital.
K12 Director Dmitry Khozin has his own perspective: "Today, libraries are the city's most expensive public facilities. The city library's annual budget is approximately 15 million hryvnias."
It was precisely because of these observations of library funds that the institution's employees labeled the activists' actions an attempted corporate raid. The conflict remains unresolved.
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