The Regional Scientific Library in Mykolaiv is unable to install a ramp: councillors have given it a year

The Mykolaiv Regional General Library is unable to install a ramp. Photo: NikVesti

For several years now, the Mykolaiv Regional Universal Scientific Library has been unable to install a ramp. The management says that the building is a listed building, and the courtyard openings near the main entrance cannot be adapted for wheelchair users. However, councillors believe that ways to achieve this must be found.

This was discussed at a meeting of the Mykolaiv Regional Council’s Committee on Science and Education, Innovation, Youth, Family and Sport, Culture and Spirituality, according to NikVesti.

As library director Viktoriia Aharkova noted, one of the challenges is ensuring accessibility. According to her, a ramp cannot be installed near the main entrance because the library building is a listed building and the width of the doorways and stairwells does not allow a person in a wheelchair to pass through. They are therefore proposing to install a ramp or lift on the side of the staff entrance.

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«The entrance and doors were built in advance. I mean, we’ve already adapted the ground floor. At present, we need help to adapt this particular area to ensure accessibility,» said the library director.

Councillor Yevhen Horburov pointed out that there are older buildings where ramps have already been installed, but he maintained that the library should be supported.

«We have been approaching the US Embassy for three years running, and they are even prepared to allocate funds for this lift,» noted Viktoriia Aharkova.

Yevhen Horburov also believed that the issue should be raised at the level of the Ministry of Culture. However, according to Vitalii Boichenko, deputy head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions at the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, the library falls under regional jurisdiction and is funded from the local budget.

«We had a single, unprecedented instance when, in 2020, as part of the «Great Construction» project at the former Russian theatre—now the Drama Theatre—we received funding for restoration. This is the only instance in which state funds were allocated to the Mykolaiv region. That was the last time. Rostislav Karandeev (former acting Minister of Culture, — note), whilst serving as acting minister, came to visit the library and the College of Culture, and promised us funding. We put together a whole stack of documentation for the creation of an arts hub and shelter. It was a small sum – we needed 1.5 million. They said: «We’ll give it to you, everything’s at the final stage», but then that was the end of it,» said Vitalii Boichenko.

Yevhen Horburov believed that we needed to find solutions, as the building could become structurally unsafe and be closed down.

«I think the regional military administration, at the highest level, should be made aware of this. And we found the money. Today we have foreign investors who are allocating funds for all this; we should look into it and invite them,» said the councillor.

Members of the committee also felt that the issue should be brought before the session, as the number of people with disabilities is growing; once the war ends, questions will arise as to why ramps and adapted washrooms were not installed in good time.

The committee recommended that the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration and the library address the shortcomings regarding the ramps. A deadline of 1 September 2027 was set for ensuring accessibility.

It should be noted that, at the Mykolaiv Regional Universal Scientific Library, part of the premises has been closed to visitors due to the building’s dilapidated condition, and one of the departments has not been operational since 2015. The library states that it cannot resolve the issue on its own, as the building requires extensive major repairs for which there are no funds in the budget.