LUPAI
Librarians for Ukrainian Peace & Independence
Saving the memory of Ukraine's libraries - and putting books in readers hands
They're burning books to erase a nation
​
LUPAI is preserving the record and rebuilding the shelves.
-
13 million books destroyed in a single summer, about a third of everything Ukraine prints in a year
-
Nearly 8 million books burned in one night in Kharkiv, including 1.2 million school textbooks
-
9% of the country's new textbooks, gone before they reached a classroom
Books teach. They connect children to their history and their country. Help us put them back on the shelves.
233 libraries destroyed completely | 680 more damaged | 450 children’s artworks preserved | 40 partner libraries
Russia is targeting Ukraine's books and libraries to wipe out its identity. LUPAI is documenting every loss and helping communities rebuild, one collection at a time. Your tax-deductible gift buys Ukrainian books for libraries, preserves the record of what was destroyed, and puts reading back within reach.
WHAT YOUR GIFT FUNDS:
-
Buying Ukrainian-language books from Ukrainian publishers to replace lost collections and textbooks in libraries and schools in Kyiv and Kharkiv
-
Building braille book collections for blind Ukrainian veterans
-
Supporting Ukrainian-led fieldwork that documents what communities lose when their libraries are destroyed
-
Translating and cataloging archive records in English and Ukrainian, and keeping the archive securely hosted
-
Shipping books and materials to libraries across Ukraine
-
Responding to library, cultural heritage, and literacy needs caused by the war.
Our Efforts
Since 2022, this initiative has built a secure digital archive documenting the destruction of over 230 Ukrainian libraries, preserving cultural evidence and supporting truth in the face of war.
Since the war began, Ukrainian libraries and San José State University have supported children through art and poetry programs, generating hundreds of works preserved digitally and showcased in virtual and international exhibitions.
LUPAI supports Ukrainian libraries through targeted fundraisers and international book drives, helping rebuild collections, restore critical resources, and expand children’s access to books across affected regions.
Who we are
LUPAI is a global initiative of librarians and archivists volunteering alongside the Ukrainian Library Association and Y. Mudryi National Library of Ukraine. Since 2022, our symposia have connected Ukrainian library professionals with colleagues around the world to find solutions together.
Learn more at LUPAI.org
