Unbreakable Libraries: A New Shipment of Books from UK Publishers

Book Aid International has sent a new shipment of books to Ukraine, which will support PEN Ukraine’s "Unbreakable Libraries" campaign.

The initiative is implemented in cooperation with Book Aid International, PEN International, English PEN, Pineapple Lane Publishing.

The shipment comes at a particularly important moment following the damage to PEN Ukraine’s Kyiv warehouse in a July airstrike. Books provided to PEN Ukraine include children’s books, leisure reading and English as a Second Language texts.

They will help restock damaged and threatened libraries, including those in frontline and liberated communities, creating access to English-language books for thousands of Ukrainians. They will be highly valued as English is increasingly used by Ukrainians for education, work and as part of day to day conversation.

Book Aid International has so far provided 52,888 books to PEN Ukraine which have reached more than 250 libraries. Maksym Sytnikov, PEN Ukraine Executive Director said:

"We are deeply grateful to Book Aid International for their generous donation of books to Ukrainian libraries. In the midst of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, these books are more than just books — they are instruments of resilience, unity, and cultural continuity. Each book that reaches a Ukrainian library during the war is priceless."

Book Aid International began operations at its new Swindon warehouse on 1 September. The charity aims to increase the books it provides to partners worldwide to two million books per year by 2030 from its new premises, and its next shipment will support readers across Zimbabwe. Alison Tweed, Chief Executive of Book Aid International, said:

"To have our first shipment from Swindon go to PEN Ukraine as they recover from the damage to their own warehouse is very special. We are enormously grateful to the UK publishing community for its generosity, and we hope publishers will continue to work with us to share the power of books with readers worldwide in the years ahead."