Presidential Library takes place at St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures

On September 13th, 2024, Yuri Nosov, the Director General of the Presidential Library, participated in a panel discussion titled Literary Heritage: From Reading to Mutual Understanding. The event was held as part of the X St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, which is taking place this year in our city from September 11th to 14th.

The panel discussion focused on literature as a universal language that enables representatives of different cultures to understand one another's value systems. The panelists explored the reasons for the popularity of historical themes in popular literature, the extent to which writers shape collective perceptions of the past, and whether the worlds created by authors can be considered part of a nation's historical heritage.

The event was moderated by Vladimir Grigoriev, the Director of the Department of State Support for Periodicals and the Book Industry at the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media in the Russian Federation.

The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Board of the Russian Historical Society, the Executive Director of the "History of the Fatherland" Foundation, Ruslan Gagkuev; the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, the Artistic Director of the Moscow Musical Theatre in Moscow, Mikhail Shvydkoy; the Editor-in-Chief of "Literaturnaya Gazeta", Maxim Zamshev; the People's Poet of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akbar Ryskulov, and other distinguished guests.

"Currently, the role of cultural institutions, including libraries, is undergoing a radical transformation," said Yuri Nosov. He explained that libraries should not only collect and preserve historical and cultural information, but also make it accessible and relevant. In a vast information landscape, libraries provide access to quality artistic and scientific works as well as trustworthy primary sources.

The Presidential Library, the electronic national library of our country, operates in both directions. In addition to its primary function, it hosts various events such as forums, conferences, video lecture halls, multimedia lessons, exhibitions, and presentations. Olympiads and competitions are also held in an online format.

On the portal of the Presidential Library, a digital collection called Fact and Image of Russian History in the Works of Russian Writers has been created. This collection allows users to see how historians and authors influenced each other and how historical and cultural memory has been shaped through artistic works. A multimedia lesson based on this collection has been developed to help students learn more about these stories. This lesson can be accessed both in person or online. This is just one example of how libraries contribute to the preservation of historical culture.

Libraries are guardians of the traditions and cultural heritage of a nation, preserving the unique characteristics and elements of different peoples' cultures. They play an active role in the spiritual and moral growth of society, especially among young people.