18 May 2011, 17:18
Opening the hearings, Committee Chairman Volodymyr Yavorivskyi stressed that situation in the rural areas in general and village libraries in particular is the pressing social and governmental issue.
"Equipment of village libraries with computers will enable Ukraine to make a breakthrough at least in one aspect of social life," Committee Chairman stated.
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that computer automation of the library network is possible if the government, the local authorities, and businesses make a common cause.
The participants of the hearings stressed that under the Laws "On Culture" and "On Libraries and Library Services", the foundation of state policy in this sector is realization of civil rights for library services, and provision of general access to information and cultural values which are collected and preserved in the libraries.
It was mentioned that the number of users of village libraries has fallen by 2-3%, although a great number of such libraries were closed. It confirms the importance of preserving the libraries which remain the only cultural and information establishments in the rural area.
The participants of the hearings stated that implementation of governmental policy in the library sector aims at such strategic goals as stability of financial sources, enhancement of library management, preservation of a centralized library system, upgrade of the material base of the libraries, etc.