How Library Social Projects Help to Promote Ideas of Gender Equality in Ukrainian Society

The article covers the topic of cooperation between libraries and women’s and other non-governmental organizations that carry out activities in the field of preventing and combating domestic violence and gender-based violence. The effectiveness of socially significant projects created on the basis of public community libraries together with public organizations is analyzed, aimed both atuniting their communities and developing a specific personality, and in general at promoting the ideas of gender parity in society. The emphasis is on the need to spread the practice of cooperation between libraries and public organizations of various orientations (in particular, those representing women’s and youth movements, national and cultural societies, etc.), state and local authorities. Forms of library work to promote the principles of gender equality in society are studied, in particular a wide range of mass events held jointly with public organizations. The most common forms of such library events are considered, today the forms are book presentations, meetings with prominent public and political figures, writers and artists, literary and musical soirйe, round tables, literature exhibitions, debates, quizzes, competitions, lectures, and the organization of clubs by interests. The implementation of modern forms of work in libraries is studied, video lectures, electronic exhibitions, various interactive forms are among them. At the same time, libraries organize multilateral cooperation between various public organizations, representatives of the business and government circles, taking into account modern trends in education, culture, art, age and psychological characteristics of users, gender approach, experience of library staff , etc. It is noted that in the conditions of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, libraries, as important socio-cultural institutions of Ukrainian communities, are becoming active assistants to their communities in terms of their ability to demonstrate resilience and development, encouraging an increasing number of women to participate in public life, helping women and girls learn how to balance their emotional and psychological state, develop their creative and leadership abilities. It is emphasized that such library projects unite communities, help women who are internally displaced persons to integrate into community life, and to get social, psychological and legal assistance they need.