I. General Distribution Note
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Established in 1990, the Sabre-Svitlo book donation program has
proven to be a primary source of foreign scholarly publications
acquisition for Ukrainian scientific and educational institutions. Since
1990 Sabre-Svitlo delivered from the USA and distributed throughout
Ukraine more than 550,000 books on political science, law, business,
social sciences, humanities, medicine, technology, English language etc.
Feedback has shown that these publications have reached numerous places
with no other channel for contact with American ideas, thus
strengthening mutual understanding and cultural exchange between
Ukrainian and American people.
In 1998 Sabre-Svitlo distributed 51,405 volumes of books and 2,442
periodicals to 1,162 institutions and individual recipients in all
regions of Ukraine. This figure indicates only those books owned by
Sabre-Svitlo, and does not reflect material distributed within the
framework of projects listed below. In addition, in 1998, 918 readers
were served at Sabre-Svitlo's lending library.
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II. Supporting free access to knowledge and information
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Since the very beginning Sabre-Svitlo's activity has been supported by the
Embassy of the United States of America. Thanks to this support, Sabre-Svitlo
has established contacts and fruitful cooperation with the Eurasia Foundation,
Counterpart and other U.S. organizations in Ukraine. His excellency Ambassador
Steven Pifer as well as his predecessors contributed much to further
Sabre-Svitlo's efforts. On May 14, 1998 Ambassador Pifer addressed the ceremony
devoted to the distribution of 500,000 American books throughout Ukraine.
This ceremony was held at the State Library of Medical Sciences in Kyiv.
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A great number of our major recipients are situated in Kyiv. For
several years Sabre-Svitlo searched for an appropriate partner as well
as financial support in order to establish a Kyiv affiliation.
Appreciating our distribution network's efficiency, the International Renaissance
Foundation (IRF) has granted Sabre-Svitlo relevant financial
support. Our Kyiv affiliate was founded at the library of National
University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and has considerably improved our
distribution network. The opening ceremony, which was held on November
24, 1998, was again addressed by Mr. Steven Pifer, Ambassador of the
United States of America. He stressed the important role Sabre-Svitlo
plays in fostering the development of a democratic society in Ukraine.
The ceremony was also attended by numerous government officials,
students, scholars, librarians, and mass-media
representatives.
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Mary Kruger, director of the USIS in Kyiv, carefully studied Sabre-Svitlo's
activity, problems and needs. As a result of her appreciation of our activity,
on August 4, 1998 Sabre-Svitlo was awarded a Democracy Grant established by the
Government of the United States of America. This project envisages distribution
of 15,000 American books to libraries, universities, schools and other educational
institutions throughout Ukraine.
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III. 1998 Special Programs supported by the International Renaissance Foundation
(IRF)
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a. Distribution of books sponsored by the IRF
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It also became evident that IRF could make use of this network in order to
distribute books published with its support. The album "Ukraine Photography"
by V. Marushchenko was the first title to be distributed. This album was
published with the financial support of the Ukrainian community in Switzerland,
and was specially offered for distribution in Ukraine. Ninety-five national,
regional and municipal libraries throughout Ukraine received this publication
as a result of the combined efforts of the IRF and Sabre-Svitlo. Sabre-Svitlo
has developed a special project on the distribution of books sponsored by the
IRF.
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b. Subscription project
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In September 1998 IRF initiated a project aimed at providing subscriptions
to major Ukrainian periodicals for public and university libraries.
Sabre-Svitlo provided careful selection of the prospective recipients
by making use of its own databse, gathered and processed their orders,
and ordered the subscriptions. As a result, 304 national, regional,
municipal and university libraries will receive 7,219 issues from 60
periodicals during the first half of 1999. This project is to be extended
to the second half of 1999.
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c. Humanitarian aid to Zakarpattia libraries
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In November 1998, Zakarpattia Oblast suffered severe flooding. As a result,
numerous local libraries lost a lot of their books. Sabre-Svitlo and the
IRF have arranged mutual action to aid Zakarpattia libraries. Responding
to this initiative, Ukrainian publishers, libraries and foreign institutions
in Ukraine including the USIS offered up to 50,000 books and periodicals.
Sabre-Svitlo provided sorting, packing, storage, loading and transportation
of donated books to Uzhhorod. To date, 35,000 volumes were already delivered
to Zakarpattia. The project will be completed in March,1999.
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d. Pushkin project
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The Pushkin project initially envisaged acquisition of Russian books for
Russian libraries. Seventy-five percent of acquisition costs will be
covered by the Soros Foundation, while the other 25% by interested
libraries. Later Ukranian and Belorussian libraries were also invited
to participate in this project. The IRF appointed Sabre-Svitlo to select
prospective recipient institutions, establishing contacts, printing and
mailing out catalogues, gathering orders. Special software was developed
to handle collected information. Finally, 67 orders for 29,989 books were
delivered to the IRF. Sabre-Svitlo's mission and policy was appreciated
and encouraged by Mr. George Soros during his visit to Ukraine on November
11, 1998.
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IV. Serving Ukrainian scholarly community
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a. WFUMA book donation project
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Sabre-Svitlo is always studying recipients' needs and interests, and looking
for additional sources of book donations in order to satisfy them. In 1997
Sabre-Svitlo arranged for the donation of valuable medical publications from
the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations. During 1998 a
considerable amount of donated books arrived in Ukraine. To date, 61 medical
libraries, universities and research institutes throughout Ukraine have
received these publications. This project will be continued in 1999.
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b. Distribution of the SCNM publications
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Sabre-Svitlo's distribution network efficiency was also recognized by
governmental entities. In January 1998, 3,000 books and brochures published
by the State Committee on Nationalities and Migration were donated to
Sabre-Svitlo and distributed among numerous Ukrainian scholarly institutions,
students and professionals.
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c. Cooperating with IREX
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In August 1998 representatives of the International Research and Exchanges
Board's office in Kyiv visited Sabre-Svitlo looking for a source to provide
IREX partners with necessary publications. As a result, Sabre-Svitlo was
requested to prepare a special collection of books on political science,
education and economics for 31 institutions selected by IREX. Five hundred
twenty-seven books were mailed to the recipients by August 29, 1998.
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d. Cooperation with libraries
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Sabre-Svitlo is always concerned to provide as wide as possible access to
donated literature. Therefore, public and university libraries are considered
our prime recipients. Sabre-Svitlo's efforts in this field were particularly
successful in 1998, and the number of partner libraries throughout Ukraine
grew considerably. In order to be informed on libraries' problems and needs,
to ensure targeted dissemination of information on our activity, and to
establish as wide as possible contacts with public and university libraries
throughout Ukraine, Sabre-Svitlo took part in numerous specialized
conferences, workshops and other events. The most important of these were
Crimea-98 International Librarians Conference, and the Congress
of the Ukrainian Library Association (ULA). Appreciating the important
role Sabre-Svitlo plays in the life of Ukrainian library community, Mrs. Olha
V. Isaievych, Sabre-Svitlo's director, was elected a member of the ULA Board.
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e. Providing donations of "special collections"
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In addition to finding appropriate sources of book donations, Sabre-Svitlo
also assists numerous institutions in establishing direct contacts with
partner organizations in the USA and Canada as well as providing delivery
of material. In 1998 Sabre-Svitlo delivered special collections of up to
15,000 volumes to 26 institutions. Among them are ACCELS,University of
Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukrainian Legal Foundation, Lviv Academy of Theology,
Rohatyn Gymnasium, Institute of Ukrainian Studies, Institute of Oriental
Studies, Institute of Arkheography and other institutions.
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f. Cooperation with donor institutions in the USA
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Sabre Foundation, Inc. has been Sabre-Svitlo's principal partner since 1990.
Sabre not only provides a major part of the book donations, but also arranges
for transportation of collections donated by other donors. Sabre-Svitlo has
established a long-term fruitful cooperation with numerous American and
Ukrainian institutions in the USA. Representatives of these organizations
often visit Sabre-Svitlo in order to arrange new and to supervise already
established book donation programs. In 1998 Sabre-Svitlo was visited by Mrs.
Tania Vitvitsky, program director of the Sabre Foundation, Inc., Mr. Roman
Procyk, executive director of the Ukrainian Studies Fund, Dr. Marta
Bohachevsky-Chomiak, Vice President of the Ukrainian National Women's
League of America, Mrs. Bozhena Olshanivsky, president of the Americans
for Human Rights in Ukraine Association, Dr. Paul Djul, president of the
World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations, Col.Arkadi
Mulak-Yatskivsky, president of the California Committee to Aid Ukraine, and
numerous others, who appreciated and encouraged Sabre-Svitlo's activity.
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V. Identifying appropriate recipients:
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Sabre-Svitlo's fundamental distribution principle is to find recipients who
can ensure the most efficient use of donated material. Looking for such a
recipient, Sabre-Svitlo is eager to disseminate information on the
availability of books for the targeted audience. Therefore, we took an
active part in specialized conferences, workshops, exhibitions etc. In
1998 Sabre-Svitlo participated in 24 events. The most important of these
were: Sabre-Svitlo's presentation devoted to the distribution of 500,000
books which was held on May 14, 1998 in the State Library of Medical
Sciences in Kyiv; the World Congress of Ukrainian Medical Associations;
the Forum of Ukrainian Publishers; the Congress of the Ukrainian Library
Association; a series of specialized exhibitions by Medvin and GalExpo;
as well as the International Education forum. Sabre-Svitlo also makes use
of mass-media. In 1998 articles on our activity were published in such
newspapers as Visnyk Knyzhkovoi Palaty (Kyiv), Ukrainska Kultura (Kyiv),
Krytyka (Kyiv), Medychni Visti (Kyiv), Armiia Ukrainy (Kyiv), Express
(Lviv), Moloda Halychyna (Lviv), Ukrainske Slovo (Donetsk), Vysokyi Zamok
(Lviv), and Ukrainskyi Shliakh (Lviv). Several TV reports were also
broadcast in Kyiv and Lviv.
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* * *
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On behalf of the Sabre-Svitlo's staff and more than 5,000 recipients we
express our deep gratitude to Mr. Steven Pifer, Ambassador of the United
States of America, for his ongoing interest and valuable support. Our
special thanks are owed to Mary Kruger, director of the USIS in Kyiv for
her kind assistance. We are deeply indebted to the International Renaissance
Foundation for the generous donation. Particular thanks must be reserved to
Mr. Oleksa Lohvynenko, program director, and Ms. Lida Hryva, manager for
their fruitful cooperation. We highly appreciate valuable support provided
by the Counterpart Humanitarian Assistance Program director Mr. Brian R.
Propp.
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It is hard to overestimate permanent support offered to our program by
various American and Ukrainian institutions in the USA. We are thankful
to Mrs. Tania Vitvitsky, Project Director, and all the staff of the Sabre
Foundation Inc.; Mr. Roman Procyk, executive director of the Ukrainian
Studies Fund; Dr. Paul Djul, president of the World Federation of Ukrainian
Medical Associations; Mrs. Bozhena Olshanivsky, President of the Americans
for Human Rights in Ukraine Association; Mr. Hryhorii Malynovskyi, and
numerous other people who offered their time and support to Sabre-Svitlo.
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List of 1998 conferences, workshops and exhibitions with Sabre-Svitlo
participation
- "Medicine in Ukraine Exhibition", Kyiv, February 17-20, 1998.
- "Medvin Exhibition", Lviv, March 11-15, 1998.
- "Polymer Parade Exhibition", Kyiv, March 12-14, 1998.
- "Christian Assembly", Kyiv, March 13-14, 1998.
- "Modern Medicine exhibition", Kyiv, March 17-19, 1998.
- "Printland exhibition", Lviv, March 25-27, 1998.
- "World of Education exhibition", Kyiv, April 16-18, 1998.
- "Conference on Internet and Economic Education", Kyiv, April 23-24,1998.
- "Conference on Non-Governmental Organizations in East and Central Europe", Budapest, May 10-12, 1998.
- "Presentation devoted to the distribution of 500,000 American books in Ukraine", Kyiv, May 14, 1998.
- "Paper Boom Exhibition", Kyiv, May 26-30, 1998.
- "Crimea-98 Library Conference", Sudak, June 6-12, 1998.
- "International Fair Ukraine", Kyiv, May 25-30, 1998.
- "BudExpo exhibition", Lviv, May 23-26, 1998.
- "Conference of the Presidents of Medical universities of Ukraine", Yaremche, July 1-3, 1998.
- "Congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations", Uzhhorod, August 15-18, 1998.
- "Medicine in Ukraine exhibition", Kyiv, September 1-4, 1998.
- "Forum of Ukrainian Publishers", Lviv, September 14-15, 1998.
- "Medicine of South Ukraine exhibition", Odesa, October 1-3, 1998.
- "Congress of Ukrainian Library Association", Kyiv, October 22-24, 1998.
- "Regional Workshop of University Librarians", Kyiv, November 10-11, 1998.
- "GalMed exhibition", Lviv, November 17-20, 1998.
- "Presentation of Sabre-Svitlo's Kyiv Affiliate", Kyiv, November 24, 1998.
- "GalExpo exhibition", Lviv, December 16-18, 1998.
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