Regions of Russia: Tuva digitizes its rare book collections

Tuva has launched digitization project of Pushkin National Library’s rare book collections, which number over 2000 editions. The library keeps only copies of some “seditious” physical editions which date back to the times of the Tuvan People’s Republic (1921-1944). The books were rescued by the library staff, as they were being withdrawn in the 1930s.

The Director of the National Library Olga Fentsel showed the first steps undertaken for the library’s upgrade to the Head of Tuva Sholban Kora-ool. In particular, she demoed the equipped information center, which is soon believed to become the backbone of the library network. In the hall of access to information systems patron will browse the electronic catalogue for the necessary book. In the future, as the electronic library will develop, patrons will have a chance to read any book from Republic’s library collections, and via Internet – browse library websites outside Tuva. Olga Fentsel also informed the Chairman of the Government that within the upgrade the number of computers in Republic’s libraries has increased from 47 to 167.

Local lore literature is being converted into electronic format at the digitization hall which uses a scanner with a 150 pages per hour productivity. About 2000 books are expected to be digitized in the near future. Among them are about 800 old editions which are no longer available to patrons. Very soon everyone will be given a chance to get acquainted with such editions by ordering their electronic counterparts.

The first set featuring 50 digitized documents will be ready to coincide with the anniversary of Tuva statehood to be celebrated on August 15, 2011. 

Provision of access to digitized rare books to the population is included into the list of priority public services rendered within the “E-government” project.