EVALUATING THE INCLUSIVITY AND AESTHETICS OF LIBRARY SPACE: AN EMPIRICAL DIMENSION OF ITS IMPACT ON USERS’ ANXIETY LEVELS (A CASE STUDY OF KYIV)

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the inclusivity and aesthetics of public library space in Kyiv and analyses their impact on users’ anxiety levels. The relevance of the topic is determined by the transformation of the contemporary library from a repository-centered institution into a multifunctional space for social interaction, psychological support, and safe community stay under conditions of prolonged stress caused by war. The theoretical framework combines the concepts of the “third place”, the Four Spaces Model, trauma-informed and biophilic design approaches, and studies of library anxiety. The purpose of the article is to determine how architectural solutions, the degree of accessibility, sensory inclusion, lighting, wayfinding, and the presence of safety zones affect the psycho-emotional state of visitors. The study applies a set of complementary methods: analysis of scholarly publications and regulations; expert observation; comparative analysis of spatial parameters in five libraries; adapted indicators of the Library Anxiety Scale; and selected elements of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). The findings demonstrate that modernized library spaces characterized by open planning, warm lighting, natural materials, intuitive navigation, and integrated dual-purpose spaces help reduce background stress and enhance the sense of psychological safety. In contrast, narrow aisles, cold fluorescent light, the absence of tactile elements, and shelters unfit for everyday use intensify discomfort, disorientation, and anxiety. The scientific novelty of the study lies in adapting the measurement of library anxiety to the Ukrainian wartime context and in interpreting library space as a tool of social and psychological support. The practical significance of the results consists in their applicability to the modernization of public libraries, the development of barrier-free environments, and the design of life-affirming spaces within Ukraine’s post-war recovery.