Statement of Support for the Ukrainian Library Community from the Eisenhower Public Library Board of Trustees

The Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees is awed and inspired by the resilience and commitment of our colleagues in Ukraine. Ukrainian libraries have become bomb shelters, points of refuge for displaced citizens, organizational centers for defense efforts in villages and cities, and as always, they serve as providers of information and resources. Librarians in Ukraine are working against disinformation, they are providing support to their communities through initiatives such as first aid instruction, and they are doing their best to preserve the history and culture of their country.

The Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees joins the American Library Association and the International Federation of Library Associations in expressing support for the libraries and librarians of Ukraine.

April 21, 2022

Access Timely & Relevant Information

As a public library we are committed to sharing resources to educate everyone against misinformation and disinformation and to use multiple perspectives to develop more critical thinking.

• World news resources: Read international magazines and newspapers for news from around the world with your library card.
• Librarian curated list of background reading: These books and articles help highlight the history of conflict, what it has cost us, and what it has taught us.

In the News: It’s Vital to Verify Accurate Info Before You Share

More than ever news comes in different forms, websites, social media posts, newspapers, podcasts, radio, and TV. Evaluating what you read and see is essential to help stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

• Fake News Survival Guide (pdf), a resource created by Eisenhower Public Library
• Factcheck.org: a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics
• Fact Check from Duke Reporters’ Lab: a center for journalism research in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
• Read this School Library Journal story: “President of the Ukrainian Library Association to the World: ‘We Are at the Forefront of the Fight Against Fakes, Misinformation, and Cyber Threats’“
• See this New York Times opinion piece: “We Can’t Trust Everything We See About the Livestreamed War” (full access with your library card)
• NPR’s March 9 report: “Ukraine’s libraries are offering bomb shelters, camouflage classes, and yes, books“
• Find age-based tips on how to talk to your kids about the news at Common Sense Media or the American Psychological Association

How You Can Help the People of Ukraine

• The International Rescue Committee is taking donations to help support displaced Ukrainian families.
• GlobalGiving, an international nonprofit that connects charitable campaigns to donors around the world, has set up a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. 
• UNICEF is increasing emergency response efforts throughout Ukraine. 
• Doctors Without Borders, long a stalwart in humanitarian work, outlines its efforts in Ukraine and how you can help. 
• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) provides direct cash assistance to those in need and helps provide opportunities for resettlement in the United States. 
• CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund aims to raise $20 million.
• Voices for Children Foundation serving the psychological needs of children since the start of the war in 2015, specializing in art therapy and general psychosocial support 
• Support journalists in Ukraine continue operations through the Kyiv Independent donation page. 
• Save the Children, a global non-profit with the mission to lifesaving relief to children and deliver essential humanitarian aid, is calling for donations.
• World Central Kitchen is serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as residents who remain in the country.
• Reporters Without Borders: an international non-profit and non-governmental organization with the stated aim of safeguarding the right to freedom of information.
• Nova Ukraine: a nonprofit dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and raising awareness about Ukraine in the United States as well as in the rest of the world.
• Razom for Ukraine: Razom was born out of the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 when millions of people worked together and risked their lives to build a pathway to a better future for Ukraine.
• Respond Crisis Translation: a non-profit organization providing translation, interpretation and language services of any kind amidst legal, medical, or personal crisis. They are currently seeking multilingual speakers to assist with the Respond Crisis Team for Ukraine