In times of conflict, libraries are not just casualties—they are deliberate targets. Viewed as repositories of knowledge, culture, and identity, their destruction is a direct attack on a nation’s heart and soul. When libraries are destroyed, the impact is profound and long-lasting, as aggressors aim to erase history, control the present, and suppress the future.
With global conflicts forcing millions to flee their homes and schools closing, the destruction of libraries deprives entire generations of the right to education and the simple joy of reading. At Book Aid International, we know that libraries are more than just buildings filled with books—they are community hubs, places of learning, and in times of war, they often serve as places of refuge.
At Book Aid International, we partner with local NGOs that deeply understand their communities’ needs. We also support initiatives that create reading spaces in schools and libraries, ensuring that books reach even the most isolated places. These long-term partnerships make a transformative difference in the lives of those affected by conflict.
Currently, we work with 186 partners in 45 countries, many of which are classified as Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAs). Through our partnerships, we provide communities with the books and resources they need most.
Lebanon
Lebanon, a country severely impacted by war and home to more than 1.5 million refugees from Syria and Palestine, faces immense challenges. Schools are barely functioning, with few new books or libraries available for children. Since 2020, Book Aid International has partnered with organizations such as Assabil and the Lebanese branch of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) to support local libraries and educational projects.
To date, we have sent 56,901 books to Lebanon, creating access to new learning opportunities in this beleaguered region. Nasreen Kassem, a teacher at the Tahaddi Education Center in Beirut, which has received books from Book Aid International, remarked: “The library provided the children with a new environment in which to learn on their own and through their companions, away from prejudice, shame, and hesitation.”
Ukraine
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 700 libraries have been damaged or destroyed, with many forced to relocate. Despite the destruction, libraries in Ukraine have remained vital—they often have to also act as community centers and shelters. In 2023, Book Aid International began working with PEN Ukraine to support their Unbreakable Libraries project, which aims to restock damaged collections. So far, we have sent more than 40,000 books to Ukraine, including dual-language titles to help refugee children maintain their literacy skills in both Ukrainian and English. “Books in English have been received,” says a representative from Khotyn City Public Library. “We are sincerely grateful for such an irreplaceable, desirable, and long-awaited contribution to our library.”
Iraq
Since 2018, we have worked with the University of Mosul to help rebuild their library, which was devastated by conflict. This summer, we reached our target of donating 50,000 books to the university, supplying carefully selected higher education texts that are crucial to rebuilding Mosul’s academic community.
How you can help
In 2023 alone, Book Aid International sent 400,543 books to countries classified as FCAs. These books offer people in desperate circumstances a chance to learn, to escape, and to hope for a better future. By restoring libraries and providing access to literature, we are not just preserving knowledge, we are nurturing resilience and offering a sense of possibility for communities torn apart by war. By supporting libraries, we are defending more than books—we are protecting the future. We couldn’t do what we do without the generous support of publishers who donate brand-new books for distribution. If you would like to join us in supporting libraries in conflict zones, visit www.bookaid.org, or contact us at info@bookaid.org or 020 7733 3577.
Alison Tweed is chief executive, Book Aid International. A version of this story previously ran in the 2024 PW Frankfurt Show Daily.