The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), located in Lviv, is the first Catholic university to be opened in the former Soviet Union, with a mission to provide an open, progressive and democratic learning environment for its students and the surrounding community. The UCU has various goals. It wants to make the university accessible to the public and at the same time serve as a role model for higher education in post-Soviet Ukraine, a private university accessible to the public.
The university is currently building a new campus. At the heart of this campus is the Metropolitan Sheptytsky Information Research Center, the first building of its type built in post-Soviet Ukraine. It includes a library for the humanities, academic and research spaces, and public spaces that serve the community.
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So, what is so special about Metropolitan Sheptytsky Information Research Center what makes it quite different from other libraries all over Ukraine. First of all, this is very big library with over 160 thousand books ranging from ancient pieces to most recent editions in various fields. All books are available to all the willing readers. Anyone with the membership card or a daily ticket can access the library. Single day ticket costs UAH 30, monthly membership costs UAH 750. Students, seniors, employees engaged in state educational system, soldiers and families with 3 children and more can enjoy a discount (UAH 15 daily ticket, UAH 100 monthly membership card). After you've picked up a book choose the most comfortable location to enjoy it: there are several specially designed reading areas. For those who need more formal surrounding Metropolitan Sheptytsky Information Research Center offers spacious hall with desks, comfortable chairs and lamps; in case you need serious concentration or privacy opt for one of the reading cabins on the top floors; if you came here just to have some relaxed time with your fave book and a cup of coffee or tea there are several super cozy couches and chairs scattred around the common reading area.
The building was designed by Behnisch Architekten from Germany. From an architectural point of view, the term openness plays a major role in the design of the building. This concept is reflected in the barrier-free ground floor of the building. The reading, exhibition and conference areas as well as a café and the university bookshop are located here. The upper levels of the building are more academic in nature, with a predominantly open-stack collection, various reading spaces, quiet study zones and group work rooms. Both the public and academic portions of the building are flexible spaces organized around a vertical atrium space that always affords views out to the beautiful Stryiskyi Park located adjacent to the campus.
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Address: 31, Struyska street, Lviv.
