Libraries are places of tranquility, opportunities to connect with others, and provide access to literature and knowledge. But what happens when such a place is ravaged and destroyed by war? Numerous Ukrainian libraries, along with their collections, have been severely affected by the war. Many of them have now been completely destroyed, damaged, or stripped of their literature. 
Through fourteen roll-ups, the upcoming traveling exhibition “Words in Flame—Ukrainian Libraries and Publishers in Times of War,” which will be on display in honor of Library Day on October 24, 2026, is going to inform about the current situation in Ukraine. The focus is on statistics, data, facts, and photographs illustrating the war’s impact on Ukrainian libraries and their literary collections. In addition, the exhibition offers insights into the work of Ukrainian librarians and how they are coping with the changed circumstances.
The two responsible organizations, the “Artists Support Ukraine” Foundation and “Library Country,” aim to use this exhibition to keep international attention focused on Russia’s war against Ukrainian culture. They are supported by the Ukraine Contact Group of Section 4 of the German Library Association (dbv), which is organizing the traveling exhibition with funding from the Association of German Librarians (VDB) and the Professional Association for Information and Libraries (BIB).

The exhibition will be on view from October 19 to November 28, 2026, during the University Library’s regular opening hours: 
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.