March 9, 2026, marks the 212th anniversary of the birth of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko (1814–1861), the great Ukrainian poet, artist, public figure, philosopher, historian, ethnographer, and folklorist. He dedicated all his strength and his entire life to serving the Ukrainian people. Taras Shevchenko is a national symbol of the Ukrainian nation. It is impossible to imagine our literature, our culture, or our country without his name.

Currently, in the conditions of war, as the Russian empire once again attempts to destroy everything Ukrainian, Shevchenko is more relevant than ever. His poetry is a powerful factor in the formation of Ukrainians as a nation. Today, Taras’s words inspire millions of Ukrainians in their struggle for a free Ukraine, supporting their strength and longing for a peaceful and better future.

There is hardly a more famous book in the history of Ukrainian literature than Taras Shevchenko's «Kobzar» It is a unique collection of his best poems from 1837 to 1861, written despite hardships and exile, reflecting the difficult fate of the people. The collection includes the poet's works that embody an entire era of our history in its most vivid, albeit tragic, manifestations.

«Kobzar» has been translated into more than 100 languages. Early editions (before 1908) contained only Ukrainian-language works, while modern «Kobzars» are usually complete collections of his poetry.

On March 9, an exhibition-collection of «Kobzars» from different years of publication from our library's funds opened at the academic literature lending department (Room 372, Building C). The «Kobzar» collection consists of editions ranging from 1952 to the modern complete 2025 collection, which includes works previously removed at various times by Tsarist and later Soviet censorship. These are not just books, but evidence of the struggle for Ukrainian identity and culture.

We invite all admirers of the work of this prominent Ukrainian artist, who became a legend during his lifetime, to visit the exhibition and fully enjoy the master's unsurpassed poetry.

We also present to you a virtual book exhibition on this topic.