Maintaining a child’s thirst for science and new knowledge requires not only good teachers and interesting books but also a place which can provide children with free access to new knowledge and inspiration for self-education.

We hope that renewed Valia Kotyk Library will become the above-mentioned place in the nearest future. By the way, LuckyBooks took part in the process of renovation of this library. These weekends all those wishing to get a glimpse of the future could do it. They saw how another subject of Library of the Future project, namely Mykola Kostomarov Library, will look like after its opening.

A library means more than simple archives and loan of books. This is a place for socializing, public space and coworking. All conditions for inclusive development of every human being should be created within such space for example additional courses, lectures, educational events, skillful members of staff who can always point towards the ways of deepening one’s knowledge, technical equipment and everyday convenience as well. Such library becomes a center of everyone’s development and gives opportunity to avoid limiting the cognitive process exclusively to school program, - says Veronika Selega, a founder of Library of Future project.

A trip to the future was available at the joint stand of the Library of Future and LuckyBooks at the festival called Kyiv Mini Maker Faire 2018. This event connected startupers, engineers, students, schoolchildren, designers, entrepreneurs and urbanists from all around the country.

A wooden construction was placed in the central pavilion of VDNH (Exhibition of National Economy Achievements). It was almost impossible to pass by it without inquiring “What is it here?”. It was an architectural model of Mykola Kostomarov Library. By taking a peek into this stand one could get a virtual tour around the future library with a help of VR-glasses. For a moment both, children and parents forgot that it was mere virtual reality and tried to reach for books from virtual shelves.

I remember visiting libraries when I was a child. It was impossible to buy books of good quality easily on every corner back then. So, the role of libraries was detrimental. But afterwards it seems to me that libraries started to lose in the competition with the Internet, TV and the possibility to purchase one’s own books. I would visit a library like the one I have seen together with my daughters. One can communicate with interesting people there as well as get entirely new knowledge. I like it, - shares his impressions Dmytro, a father of two daughters and a visitor of the stand by the Library of Future.

Interesting lectures, workshops, educational programs, and opportunities for additional development are already planned to be introduced in renovated libraries. That is why the similar event was held at the stand of the project - the workshop The Moving Map of the Starry Sky. Tetiana Kovalchuk-Skorohod, a scientific employee of the Institute of Space Research NANU-DKAU and a member of LuckyBooks expert council, showed children how to create one’s own celestial map. Now everyone who spent there mere half an hour will be able to recognize dozens of constellations in the sky on any day of the year.

Talking about the science is not enough in order to get children involved into it. Beautiful words draw attention but are difficult to remember. But when child does something him- or herself and with own hands he or she won’t forget it. Especially when it is a real small scientific project that will help children discover surrounding world. Our aim is to create such small memories in the minds of our participants that will keep the spark of curiosity towards the science alive in the future, - says Tetiana.

The discussions about the importance of preserving the culture of reading were livid at the stand as well as the role and necessity of libraries in the age when all information is available online. The eternal question - What do you recommend to read? - was also brought up. This month the renewed Valia Kotyk Library is to open its doors for children in Podil with a help of the projects such as the Library of Future and LuckyBooks.