International events: International Conference “New Format of Eurasian Libraries. Information Systems and Technologies” runs in Almaty

The International Conference “New Format of Eurasian Libraries. Information Systems and Technologies” is running November 15-17 2011 in Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan).

The conference has been launched by the Interstate Foundation for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member-states.

The main purpose of the conference is to formulate a new cooperation strategy for libraries in CIS member-states in the context of information and library resources integration by developing solutions for shaping the interstate network infrastructure and creation of network resources, including digital library projects, promotion of projects involving introduction of innovations at libraries.

The International conference is timed to celebration of 20th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 20th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States and 80th anniversary of the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The conference has brought together representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and CIS member-states, directors of national and state libraries of CIS states, official representatives of the Interstate Foundation for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member-states, directors of republic and regional scientific libraries of Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of cultural, scientific and education institutions. The conference has also attracted specialists of the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library.

A key report entitled “Priorities, Prospects and Strategies for Development of Eurasian Library Environment” will touch upon theoretical, ideological, conceptual, technological aspects of integration of Eurasian libraries and will become the core of the conference.

The program of the conference will feature the General Meeting of members of the Library Assembly of Eurasia and a roundtable discussion based on the theme “State Policy towards Libraries of CIS member-states: Experience, Problems and Prospects”.

The conference will hold a presentation of the Kazakh-Russian project “Documentary Heritage of Kazakhstan in Holdings of the National Library of Russia” and presentations of projects: “Information and Library Support of the National Program for Innovative and Industrial Development of Kazakhstan for 2011-2014”, “Electronic State Library Collection”, “Libraries of Kazakhstan”. Underway is a thematic book exhibition celebrating 80th anniversary of the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 20th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.