The Project: This humanitarian project was a joint effort of CORBIA, the Ukrainian Center of Public Initiatives-Ternopil (UCPI), many volunteers, book donors and financial contributors to establish working English language public libraries in Ukraine, The first Library was designated for the City of Ternopil, in Western Ukraine. The first container load of approximately 30,000 books was shipped in the fall of 2002.


This Library project was initiated in May, 2000 when Mr. Alexander Laevchenko wrote to Mr. Bill Coleman expressing the need for English books in Ukraine and issuing an appeal for our assistance. (Click Here to read the letter.) By June, 2000 the U.S. Project team had been assembled and started to work. You may follow the progress of this project by clicking Here.

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Books: We needed 30,000 books suitable for a library. The types of books collected and shipped included reference books of all kinds, Text books on every subject, coffee table books with photos, literature including novels of fiction, non-fiction and biographies. We were especially wanted to send children's books of all kinds and readers. We collected dictionaries, thesaurus, encyclopedias (not older than 1990), and "how-to" books on every subject. Due to the high cost of shipping, we did not accept magazines or periodicals of any type.

The final results were overwhelming. We eventually ended up sending three complete libraries. One for Children, one General Library and the third was a comprehensive Medical Library complete with technical videos, slides and lectures on many medical subjects. Each of these libraries are housed separately. The Children's library has become a much used resource of the schools. See the section on Schools.

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Book Donors
Books were Donated By the Following:

Spartanburg County School District 7
Furman University Political Science Department
Furman Administration
Furman History Department
Furman Biology Department
Furman Religion Department
Furman Baptist Student Union
Furman Psychology Department
Furman Engaged Learning Department
Foothills Rotary Club - Travelers Rest
Simpsonville Rotary Club - Simpsonville, S.C.
North Spartanburg Rotary Club
Pickens Rotary Club
Pleasantburg Rotary Club of Greenville
Dr. and Mrs. Dana E. Kuhl
Mrs. Carolyn Coleman
Mr. Carey Mason
Mr. Gordon Moore
Heather Buvalla
Mrs. Oksana Kuzyszyn
Ms. Adriana Luchechko
Ms. Carmel Harman
Webster University
Bob Jones University
Greenville Technical College
Hillcrest Highschool, Simpsonville, S.C.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church
Echo Hills Baptist Church
East Park Baptist Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Rocky Creek Baptist Church
Fairmont Baptist Church, Fairmont, N.C.
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of S.C.
Branch 100, Carteret,N.J. Ukrainian Women's League of America
All of those individuals who wish to remain anonymous

A special 'Thank you' to Ms. Fay Towell, Medical Librarian of The Greenville Hospital System for her tireless efforts in organizing and collecting the complete medical library that was shipped. Also 'Thanks' to all of the physicians who contributed major medical works from their personal libraries for this very noble cause.