Lviv hosted celebrations on the occasion of the 134th anniversary of the founding of the Library of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, an institution that played a significant role in the development of Ukrainian science and the preservation of the national cultural heritage. The event, which took place at the Vasyl Stefanyk National Scientific Library of Ukraine in Lviv, was attended by Oleksandr Svishchov, President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, philanthropist and public figure.
The event brought together scientists, representatives of the cultural environment, philanthropists and public figures who have been supporting the development of Ukrainian science and education for many years. Among the invited guests were Yuriy Kotyk and Mykola Kmit.
In opening the ceremony, Vasyl Ferstein, Director General of the Library, emphasized the special significance of the Library of the Shevchenko Scientific Society for Ukrainian history. It was the first national scientific library of Ukraine that accumulated and preserved the intellectual heritage of the Ukrainian people, promoted the development of science in the Ukrainian language, and formed an environment for the work of leading Ukrainian scientists.
Special attention during the event was paid to the presentation of new scientific publications prepared by specialists of the Vasyl Stefanyk Lviv National Scientific Library of Ukraine. Among them are the catalog “Imago Ucrainæ on Maps of the XV-XX centuries”, the dictionary “Hidden Names: Dictionary of Pseudonyms of Ukrainian Authors of the XIX-XXI centuries” and the fundamental work “The Shevchenko Scientific Society Press in the Reception of European Journalism (1873-1939): Selected Works”.
The last two editions were published thanks to the financial support of the families of Oleksandr Svishchov and Yurii Kotyk. The library staff expressed special gratitude to the patrons for their help in implementing important research and publishing projects that contribute to the preservation of Ukrainian cultural and intellectual heritage.
According to scholars, the publication Hidden Names has become one of the largest studies of Ukrainian pseudonyms. It contains information on more than 24,000 pseudonyms of Ukrainian writers, journalists, and public figures from different historical periods. At the same time, the work on the press of the Shevchenko Scientific Society allows us to better understand the role of Ukrainian journalism in the European intellectual space in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Supporting such projects is an important component of Oleksandr Svishchov’s public activities. Known primarily for the development of Ukrainian water polo, he has also been involved in cultural, educational, and scientific initiatives aimed at preserving Ukrainian historical memory and promoting national heritage for many years.
At the end of the event, Vasyl Ferstein thanked the benefactors for their consistent support of the library and expressed hope for further cooperation in the implementation of new scientific and cultural projects. As a token of gratitude, the guests were presented with copies of the presented publications.
