The Odesa National Scientific Library has acquired a new mobile station ARK 1, equipped with advanced technology for cleaning, disinfecting, and restoring books. This initiative was made possible through the support of the ALIPH Foundation and the Ukrainian Library Association.

The first station arrived in Ukraine in January 2025. Its compact dimensions (6 × 2.3 meters) allow for quick deployment without the need for additional equipment, and it can operate on a generator in the absence of electricity.

Between March and August, specialists processed over 350 documents, including around 200 books from the late 19th to early 20th century from university libraries, 30-35 newspaper volumes from the Kherson Regional Universal Scientific Library named after Oles Honchar, and more than 70 archival documents from the Yaroslav Mudry National Library and other institutions.

Odesa, with its unique cultural heritage and under constant threat of shelling, now has a tool for rapid response to damage to library collections. Practical training for city librarians on document preservation is planned for October.

This initiative is being implemented by the Yaroslav Mudry National Library of Ukraine, the National Library of the Czech Republic, and other partners with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

The project is funded by the Komarek Family Charity Fund and several international donors, coordinated by the Yaroslav Mudry National Library of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Library Association.