NEWS AND VIEWS

Philadelphia community library marking its 45th anniversary

by Dzvinka Zacharczuk

PHILADELPHIA - The recent showing of the film "Music Man" on network TV - which presents the town's librarian as the guardian of culture and knowledge - brought to mind our own Ukrainian community library in Philadelphia.

Forty-five years ago a Plast troop named Chortopolokhy chose to maintain a book collection that became the Plast library. The troop evolved into the Chortopolokhy Plast sorority with, interestingly enough, a large number of librarians in it, membership. So, thanks to their dedication and meticulous professional handling of the book collection, it grew into what it is today: the Ukrainian Library at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Philadelphia.

Housing 16,000 volumes, today this is the largest Ukrainian community library in the United States.

The growth began when in 1964 the Chortopolokhy librarians made an alliance between the Plast library and Ridna Shkola, the historic Ukrainian Saturday school organization. Ridna Shkola, in need of school library, solved the problem by making annual contributions of a minimum of $500 toward the purchase of books at the Plast library, hence satisfying the need of its students.

The collection became known as the Plast and Ridna Shkola Library and was housed in the parsonage next door to Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church in Philadelphia.

In the 1980s the Ukrainian community formed a special committee under the leadership of Dr. Alexander Chernyk and purchased a building which became known as the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa. By 1984, along with over 30 other Ukrainian organizations, the Plast and Ridna Shkola Library moved into the new facility. In 1991 the second president of UECC, Borys Zacharczuk established a nine-member Library Board, first headed by Martha Tarnavska, a distinguished librarian, as well as one of the original members of the Chortopoloky troop.

Housed in the UECC and incorporated as a UECC program, the library grew and was modernized. Today, it offers the latest Ukrainian publications, as well as English-language publications about Ukraine, English translations of Ukrainian literature and periodicals from both Ukraine and the diaspora, videos, audiotapes and Internet services. It serves the reading needs of the Ukrainian school on Saturday, while on weekdays it hosts visits from nursery school children in its children's corner, which contains the latest selection of Ukrainian books.

The library is open four days a week with both day and evening hours. It gives parents on the go a place to catch their breath as they wait for their children - the library provides them with a comfortable chair and a look at Ukrainian publications from around the world. Many Ukrainian organizations and especially the senior citizens' groups are provided with a rich source of reading and research material. The most enthusiastic visitors to the library are the new emigrants from Ukraine, since they are the most avid readers.

The Ukrainian Library at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center is well-governed by a special board of directors, presently headed by Sofia Hewryk, managed by a dedicated librarian, Halyna Kluk, and helped by scores of volunteers. It firmly upholds the commitment to its charter: "To compile books, periodicals and other materials in the Ukrainian language, as well as English-language publications with Ukrainian subject matter or authored by Ukrainian ethnics; make available the source of information about Ukraine to the general public; work fully with Ukrainian schools, youth groups or any other general or academic organizations providing them with whatever material is at the Library's disposal."

This library, which so richly serves the vast Ukrainian community in Philadel-phia and the neighboring area is celebrating its 45th anniversary. May it grow and prosper for many years to come and be the "oceans of knowledge" as written by Ivan Franko and "give to those who dive into them riches beyond belief."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 8, 2003, No. 23, Vol. LXXI

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