THE INTERNATIONAL ONLINE CONFERENCE «THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARY IN PRESERVING THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF SOCIETY IN THE MODERN WORLD» WAS HELD

On September 21, 2021, an international online conference "The role of the library in preserving the cultural and historical heritage of society in the modern world" was held, organized by the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy together with the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

During the event, participants from among scientists and public figures, directors of presidential, national and other major libraries of the world, as well as specialists of the library industry exchanged views on the topic, discussed the humanistic mission of libraries in the education of patriotism, touched upon issues of their development in the era of digitalization and new global challenges.

There was an exchange of experience in the use of effective forms of information services.

- Elbasy always emphasizes that libraries are the nation’s information resource, and the preservation of cultural heritage is a State priority. Since its inception, the classic mission of the library has been the accumulation, preservation and transfer of knowledge. Mankind is looking back at the past to find signs of the future, and libraries are promoting book monuments of high historical and scientific significance that contain invaluable information about our history, said Bakytzhan Temirbolat, Director of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy.

The speaker spoke about the activities of the institution.

– On the one hand, the Library of Elbasy is close to classical libraries in terms of accumulation and storage of historical information. On the other hand, it is the presidential center, whose key mission is to study, systematize and promote the historical heritage of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which in turn is an integral and organic part of the history of independent Kazakhstan."

Welcoming the participants, the Head of the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Nur-Sultan Umitkhan Munalbayeva said:

- The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K. K. Tokayev, emphasizing the importance of encouraging the younger generation to reading, said: "Interest in reading, in learning about the world through books should be formed in children from school. And the library should be a place of concentration of this interest, a guide to the fascinating world of books." Today, as the world is gripped by new challenges, including the pandemic, with more free time for self-development and self-improvement, and of course, more than anyone else, the library is the first aid in human learning and development. The circumstances caused by new challenges on a global scale allow us, the "healers of human souls", to use innovative methods of propaganda and teaching reading, using new technological capabilities.

U. Munalbayeva read out the welcome address of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA, in which it was noted: "Libraries play a crucial role in ensuring people's access to books, information, research, helping people acquire new skills, discover history and culture. Reading for pleasure is also an important way to maintain literacy levels throughout our lives. Communities with a high level of readership and literacy are more creative, more productive and more viable, and libraries are the ideal place where people come together to read, study and learn to read."

The Camarillo Public Library (USA, California) and the Vancouver Public Library (Canada, Vancouver) also addressed welcoming words to the participants of the conference.

In her speech, Natalya Samoilenko, Deputy Director-General for External Relations and Exhibition Activities of the Russian State Library (Moscow), touched upon the importance of digitizing book monuments of outstanding spiritual and material value.

Geraldine Chatlar, an official of the Department of International Relations of the National Library of France, reported in her report that their library contained more than 130 titles in the Kazakh language, including manuscripts.

– We are interested in spreading the library heritage stored by us to a wider audience, we work with libraries around the world to preserve the cultural heritage of mankind. Today we are ready to share our experience, best practices and ideas, said G. Chatlar.

Elena Zhabko, Director of Information Resources at the Presidential Library named after B. N. Yeltsin (St. Petersburg), devoted her speech to the topic " Cultural Heritage of Russia: the role of libraries in its preservation and popularization".

The event was also attended by a public figure, Doctor of Philology, Professor Jiri Shima (Prague), General Director for the Press Library of the National Library of Turkey Ali Odabash, Head of the Department for International Relations of the National Library of Estonia Mari Kannusaar (Tallinn), Deputy Chairman of the Writers' Union of the Republic of Belarus (Minsk) Elena Stelmakh, General Director of the Library of Foreign Literature named after M. I. Rudomino ( Moscow) Pavel Kuzmin, editor-in-chief of the Slovak online publication "Financial News" Vladimir Bachishin, Chairman of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan Ulugbek Esdaulet, writer and publicist Sadybek Tugel.

A Compilation of Participants' Reports will be issued on the outcome of the Conference.