The Mykolaiv Regional Library has announced that the building is in a state of disrepair: some of the reading rooms have been closed

The Mykolaiv Regional Library has announced that the building is in a state of disrepair: some of the reading rooms have been closed. Photo: NikVesti archive

At the Mykolaiv Regional Universal Scientific Library, some of the premises have been closed to visitors due to the building’s dilapidated condition, whilst one of the departments has been out of operation since 2015. The library says it cannot resolve the problem on its own, as the building requires extensive major repairs for which there is no funding in the budget.

This came to light during a meeting of the Mykolaiv Regional Council’s standing committee on science, education, culture, youth and sport, according to NikVesti.

The library’s director, Viktoriia Aharkova, explained that the condition of certain rooms already poses a threat to staff and visitors.

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«We have areas in a state of disrepair. We have closed off part of the premises to visitors because plaster is falling from the ceiling there. We cannot put people’s safety at risk,» she said.

According to the library’s director, virtually all the building’s main structural elements are in need of repair.

«The roof, the façade and the interior need repairing. This requires significant funds, which the library does not have,» said Viktoriia Aharkova.

During the discussion, the chair of the parliamentary committee, Yevhen Horburov, emphasised that the problem has existed for several years, yet no significant changes have been made so far.

«The rooms in the library are in a state of disrepair; the ceiling is falling on people’s heads,» said the councillor.

The library director clarified that the danger is not confined to the reading rooms.

«In the corridors, large chunks of plaster are falling off; it’s simply dangerous to work there,» she noted.

The culture and arts section remains a separate issue. Due to the dilapidated state of the premises, it was closed back in 2015. Previously, it was the venue for creative evenings and meetings with writers, poets and musicians.

According to Vitalii Boichenko, deputy head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions at the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, an investment project has already been drawn up for the library to renovate one of the halls.

The total cost is 2.7 million hryvnias. This sum covers the preparation of design and cost estimate documentation and the carrying out of the renovation work. Last year, the project was included in the reserve list, but no funds were ever allocated for its implementation. This year, the Department of Culture is once again seeking to secure funding.

At the same time, councillors pointed out that it is currently impossible even to begin the renovation without drawing up the design and cost estimate documentation, which costs around 700,000 hryvnias.

Yevhen Horburov urged that efforts should not be limited to seeking funds solely from the regional budget, but that there should be more active engagement with state bodies and international partners.

He emphasised that the library is one of the region’s leading cultural institutions, hosting nationwide and inter-regional events, yet is forced to maintain the building largely through its own resources and thanks to grant support.

«Nothing is changing. We will end up with the library being closed down as it is in a state of disrepair,» the deputy warned.

Following the meeting, the committee recommended that the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration take steps to repair the building’s façade, the dilapidated premises and the user services department, as well as to continue seeking funding for the library’s restoration. A separate recommendation was made to provide barrier-free access to the building and to refurbish the toilets for people with reduced mobility.

It should be noted that an inclusive space — the «Dotyk» centre for adapted access to information — has been opened at the Mykolaiv Regional Universal Scientific Library. People with visual impairments can use the typhlo-complex, which helps them listen to information, read it by enlarging the text on the screen, and print it in Braille.