If librarians’ salaries are left at the survival level, Ukrainian libraries will simply disappear — there will be no one to work there. Raising salaries can stop this process, but it will not cure the industry: the crisis is much deeper and it affects the entire culture sector.
The National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” has published an analytical report — “Systemic crisis in the Ukrainian library sector and ways to overcome it”. Analysts of the “ANTS” Network explained in detail why the sector is on the verge of survival and, most importantly, how to save it.
According to the analytical report, Ukrainian libraries are experiencing a systemic crisis that covers four dimensions:
- salaries on the verge of survival (in 2026, salaries range from 5691 UAH to 7356 UAH),
- rapid aging of personnel (as of the end of 2025, about 46,7% of library workers were in the 45–60 age group, while the youth accounted for 9,3%),
- chronic underfunding of collections and premises,
- an outdated evaluation system that does not see the real contribution of libraries to social development.
The most dangerous consequence of this crisis is the loss of human potential.
“If the profession is not renewed, the state loses an entire network with appropriate competencies and skills: work with collections, cultural mediation, information navigation, reading support, local historical memory, and the ability of libraries to be community centers,” the study says.
What ANTS Proposes
The report proposes a specific action plan in three stages:
- during the first 6 months — to review the tariff rates of librarians, conduct an audit of the personnel situation, and determine a list of frontline libraries for priority support.
- from 6 to 18 months — to launch pilots of new financing models with greater autonomy for institutions, update collections and equipment, and move to evaluating libraries based on indicators of social and educational impact — and not just by the number of visits and book loans.
- In a 3-year horizon — to scale successful models and integrate libraries into broader reading, digital literacy, and adult education programs.
The authors of the report emphasize: raising salaries is a necessary first step, but not sufficient. Without institutional reform, greater financial autonomy of institutions, and new performance criteria, the system will remain at the same point.
Ukraine can get a modern library network. The implementation of this strategy will allow transforming libraries from unprofitable budget institutions into an effective public service and infrastructure for the development of the entire country.
The publication of this analytical report is a consistent continuation of the systemic activity of the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” in protecting cultural heritage. In April 2026, we already raised this issue at the press briefing “Underfunding of culture leads to critical consequences: what can save the industry?”. At that time, experts, cultural figures, and library directors spoke about humiliating advance payments of 3800 hryvnias and the threat of a personnel catastrophe. Today, we are moving from stating facts to a specific action plan and advocating for systemic reforms at the state level.
