The Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Presidential Library to present projects creating unique digital manuscript collections

June 29, 2017 at 11:00 the Presidential Library and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences present a press tour dedicated to the experience of creating unique digital manuscript collections. 

The press tour will be attended by the Director General of the Presidential Library Alexander Pavlovich Vershinin, the Director of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Mikhailovna Belyaeva, the Bishop of Tikhvin and Lodeinopolsky Mstislav, the Head of the Scanning Department of the Presidential Library Sergei Eduardovich Tikhonov, the Head of the Research Department of Manuscripts of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences Maria Vladimirovna Korogodina.

As part of the press tour in the manuscript department of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences will be held a presentation of the materials of the library of the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. Currently, the collection amounts 113 manuscripts. Of special interest there are hand-written collections with the lives of Russian saints, first of all, the founders of the monasteries: the Monks Alexander Svirsky, Alexander Oshevensky, Cyril of Novoyezersky, and the life of the hierarchs - the Bishop of Novgorod Nikita, Patriarch Nikon. The descriptions of the monastery, compiled already in modern times by "book" monks are preserved. The collection also presents historical works, for example, about Archimandrite Alexander, the opponent of Peter I, deposed and executed in 1720, as well as books from the nearby monastery, now restored, Kozheozersky. 

Like any monastery library, the Alexandro-Svirsky collection has preserved liturgical, theological books, translations from the Greek language, works on world history with additions about the Moscow kingdom and others.

The participants of the press tour will see how the process of digitizing archival documents, which are of great interest to the society, is taking place with the help of the latest modern technologies of the Presidential Library, the fund of which amounts to more than 500 thousand items.

The cooperation of the Presidential Library and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been active since 2011. During this time, more than 2 thousand unique materials were digitized. Microfilms, archival documents, collected works and much more are among them.

Accreditation of journalists is until 16.00 July 28, 2016.

Applications for accreditation should be sent to: Maria Perestoronina, perestoronina@prlib.ru, media@prlib.ru,  tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 781, mob. +7 (921) 099-97-52.

The application should specify the full name, the name of the media, contact phone numbers.

The program of the event:

10.30 – 11.00 - gathering of journalists at the entrance to the building of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences at the address: Saint-Petersburg, Birzhevaya Line, 1.

Main reading room (3rd floor)

11.00 - 11.10 - presentation by Irina Mikhailovna Belyaeva, Director of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences, about the content of materials provided for digitization, their uniqueness and significance for the society, as well as prospects for further cooperation with the Presidential Library.

11.10 - 11.20 - presentation by Alexander Pavlovich Vershinin, Director General of the Presidential Library, on cooperation with the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences and joint projects

11.20 - 11.30 - speech by the Bishop of Tikhvin and Lodeynopolsky Mstislav on the importance of digitizing documents and materials of the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery and constructive dialogue between the authorities, science and the church

11.30 - 11.50 - questions and answers

Department of Manuscripts of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Demonstration of documents of the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery in the manuscript department of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences, comments by the head of the research department of the manuscripts Maria Vladimirovna Korogodina.

12.00 - 12.30 - 1 group of journalists

12.30 - 13.00 - 2 group of journalists

Ground floor, room 101

Demonstration of the digitization process, comments by the head of the scanning department of the Presidential Library Sergei Eduardovich Tikhonov

12.00 - 12.30 - 2 group of journalists

12.30 - 13.00 - 1 group of journalists

13.00 - the end of the event.