Libraries are among the most trusted public institutions and play a vital role in times of war, migration, and information warfare. At the festival Ukraine Vision, this talk explores how libraries in Ukraine and Sweden serve as spaces for truth, inclusion, and the preservation of language and culture, while fostering resilience against propaganda. It highlights how Ukrainian libraries have adapted to conflict and displacement, offering access to information, cultural programs, and educational support. The session also examines how Swedish libraries can amplify Ukrainian voices, support exiled communities, promote media literacy and critical thinking, and strengthen solidarity in challenging times.

MODERATOR
Thord Eriksson is a journalist and author who frequently writes about migration and related social issues. He is currently working on a book about the so-called hybrid warfare at the border with Belarus, where people on the move have been cynically instrumentalized to put political pressure on the European Union. In spring 2025, in his role as Editor-in-Chief of the Swedish Library Association’s journal Biblioteksbladet, he traveled to Ukraine. From there, he reported on Russia’s attacks on the country’s language, identity, and cultural heritage.

SPEAKERS
Karin Grönvall is Director of the National Library of Sweden (Kungliga biblioteket), which collects, preserves, and provides access to Sweden’s cultural heritage. She advocates for libraries as pillars of democracy, emphasizing their role as trusted institutions that collaborate across borders. Karin highlights libraries’ importance in countering information influence, promoting access to knowledge, reading, and lifelong learning, and is active in international networks such as the Conference of National Librarians and Bibliotheca Baltica.

Hanna Nordell, an art historian, cultural worker, producer and writer, has been Managing Director of PEN Sweden since 2021 and leads the PEN-to-PEN project in collaboration with PEN Ukraine, supporting frontline libraries and fostering cultural exchange through literature. With a background in visual arts, she has worked at Tensta Konsthall and Gävle Konstcentrum, where she coordinated the first residency for a visual artist within the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), highlighting her commitment to international artistic solidarity.

Svitlana Taratorina is a Ukrainian writer raised in Crimea and based in Kyiv. She is the author of fantasy and speculative fiction novels, including Lazarus and The House of Salt, as well as children’s books and comics. Her works explore mythology, history, and the contemporary experience of Crimea. Taratorina is a recipient of numerous Ukrainian and international literary awards. She is a member of PEN Ukraine.

Get your free ticket. More information on Ukraine Vision here.