Modern libraries of Ukraine as an inclusive space: promotion of reading and popularisation of books

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to present the libraries of Ukraine as an inclusive space for the promotion of reading and popularisation of books in contemporary conditions. The research methodology is based on the general scientific principles that cognition is systematic, and comprehensive. In order to achieve this goal, the following special methods are used: comparison, analysis, and generalization. Scientific novelty of the article focuses on the issue of an inclusive space of libraries, which is successfully solved by the librarianship of Ukraine. Legislative initiatives to ensure access of visually impaired people to adapted information resources and promotion of reading are presented. The best experience of libraries in Ukraine under contemporary conditions for servicing readers with disabilities is revealed. Conclusions. The article argues that currently scientific studies in Ukrainian librarianship as a science of the regularities of library forming, developing, and functioning should update the theoretical basis of the promotion of reading as an inclusive space under contemporary conditions, that is, in this aspect, library science falls behind the achievements of library practice. It is established that with Ukraine gaining independence, a new stage began of promoting reading, books, and popularisation of the library as an inclusive space for development, education, and socialisation at the state level. It is asserted that Ukraine's orientation towards the development of the civilized world encourages the introduction of internationally proven practices to improve library and information services for people with disabilities and visually impaired users, ie the introduction of inclusion in a library sphere is one of the trends of state cultural policy. It is determined that information and communication services for people with disabilities are focused on such vectors as social, informational, psychological, and leisure ones in order to fully meet their informational, educational, and cultural needs.

Keywords: libraries of Ukraine, inclusive space, promotion of reading, popularisation of books, people with disabilities, visually impaired users.