Rustam Gilfanov: Lucky Labs organized a computer class in the first Kyiv children’s library hub

At the end of last year, Valentin Kotyk library for children was opened in Kyiv after reconstruction. Following a new international trend, now it is a place for communication and learning, an open public space. In accordance with this concept, Valentin Kotyk library and other libraries of the Bibliohub project will continue to evolve.

After renovation, the library was provided with barrier-free transportation, an accessible toilet, economical lighting, an open kitchen, new interior and furniture. Bibliohub got new devices – a 3D printer, computers, an interactive whiteboard, a projector and computers for people with disabilities.

IT company Lucky Labs, which has long been working with Valentin Kotyk library and the Project “Libraries of Future,” helped the library to form the computer class.

“Creating free space on the basis of libraries has been practiced all over the world for a long time. For Ukraine, this project is an important innovation. And we are glad that Lucky Labs has become part of it. The company donated computers for children to the library, but decided not to dwell on this,” says the company’s founder, Rustam Gilfanov. “At the same time, our employees organized free programming courses for schoolchildren in the library.”

The company began to implement the concept of free space in Valentin Kotyk library at the reconstruction stage. In 2018, a few dozen students of Kyiv schools managed to enjoy the programming courses.

The children’s library works with another Lucky Labs’ charity project, LuckyBooks. “We organized a workshop on ecology in the library, on the basis of which the children wrote a book on environmental pollution. Representatives of LuckyBooks held a meeting in the library for children with the participation of the famous American biotechnologist Wayne Parrott, who introduced the children to the concept of GMOs and its influence on people’s lives,” Rustam Gilfanov says. “The library received all the books published within the project and formed LuckyBooks stand of popular science literature for teens.

Before renovation, about 3 thousand readers had visited the library annually. The organizers of the bibliohub project hope that the new format will help to interest many more people in books soon.

About Lucky Labs

Lucky Labs develops software products for marketing, gaming and financial industries. The company\\’s portfolio includes more than 100 mobile and desktop applications. The company sells its products on the western market and in the Asian countries. Today, 950 people work in the Ukrainian offices of Lucky Labs. According to DOU rating, Lucky Labs is also among the 20 largest Ukrainian IT companies.