Library program brings information about Ukraine Science Professor Sarah Wilson Sokhey presents the program “Russia’s War against Ukraine” at the Nederland Community Library. PHOTO BY SUSAN KELLY[/caption]

It’s easy to live in a beautiful mountain community like Nederland, a place where people flock to inhale the seasons, the scenery, and laid-back culture. It’s a place where a quaint community library sits peacefully, overlooking a creek and welcoming visitors from all over the place.

On the other hand, it’s not so easy to live in Ukraine, let alone have a library there. The Ukrainian Libraries Association has been helping both civilians and military personnel by providing training for the injured and also as temporary asylums for displaced civilians. Ukrainian libraries are also defending Ukraine in cyberspace by countering a barrage of misinformation. Libraries all over the world are now scurrying to safeguard Ukrainian books and culture. “What can we do?” asked Elektra Greer, Director of Nederland Community Library (NCL).

Kathy Guyton, Vice President of the Nederland Community Library Foundation (NCLF) had an idea. For the month of March 2022, all book sales and sales of library paraphernalia would be donated to UNICEF in support of children in Ukraine. Library volunteer Kathy Peck started baking cookies to sell and 100% of those proceeds went to UNICEF UKRAINE, in total almost $500.

Libraries are often referred to as the house of learning, the holder of knowledge, or the purveyor of knowledge.

In true library form, on Monday evening, May 2, 2022, CU Political Science Professor Sarah Wilson Sokhey presented the program “Russia’s War Against Ukraine,” at the Nederland Community Library. She has been studying and researching in Russia since 2002 and in ninety minutes presented an easy to understand historical and geographical context of the war in Ukraine. She discussed the current war against Ukraine, its origins in 2013, Ukrainian politics since 1990, and the Russian’s public’s support for the war. https://nederland.colibraries.org/russias-war-with-ukraine-program- recording/

Benjamin Teitelbaum, professor at CU, author, Nederland resident, and former member of NCL’s District Board, was also in the audience on May 2. He supports a program called SUNFLOWER SEEDS UKRAINE and encourages everyone to “spread seeds of help.”

This particular program focuses on supporting needs that might be overlooked due to the lack of infrastructure or overwhelming demand. Since the beginning of the war, SUNFLOWER SEEDS UKRAINE has provided tactical medical aid kits and gear items to help Ukrainian defenders at the front lines resist the invasion. Find out more at sunflowerseedsukraine.org.

Libraries are often referred to as the house of knowledge and Nederland Community Library doesn’t disappoint. It’s a compassionate place in a small town with a big heart that reaches all the corners of the world.

The Nederland Community Library is located at 200 North Highway 72, Nederland. They can be reached at 303-258-1101. Check out their website at https://nederland.colibraries.org/.