Presidential Library as participant of XI Congress of Russian Book Union

The delegation of the Presidential Library, led by Director General Yuri Nosov, participated in the XI Congress of the Russian Book Union (RBU), which was held on December 4, 2024, in Moscow.

This is a major industry event that has taken place every five years since 2019. At the congress, various issues were discussed, including the search for new ways to promote reading, increase the cultural competence of the nation, preserve and develop Russian culture, maintain the leading role of literature and the Russian language, strengthen the unified cultural and educational space, educate young people in citizenship and patriotism, and emphasize the importance of spiritual, moral, and social values.

The congress was attended by a number of high-ranking officials, including Vladimir Medinsky, the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation; Sergey Stepashin, the President of the Russian Book Union; Elena Yampolskaya, an Adviser to the President; representatives of relevant ministries and departments; the Director General of the Russian State Library; the President of the Library Assembly of Eurasia; Vadim Duda, the President of the Russian Library Association; Yakov Schreiberg, the Scientific Director of the State Public Scientific and Technical Library of Russia; Pavel Kuzmin, the General Director of the Rudomino All-Russian State Library of Foreign Literature; and other prominent guests.

The main report on the activities of the Russian Book Union for 2020-2024 was presented by the President of RBU, Sergey Stepashin. In his speech, he summarized the results, highlighted the most significant challenges faced by the Russian book community, and outlined priority areas for development. These included legislative initiatives to regulate the industry, digital transformation of the book market, and addressing topical issues in book publishing and distribution, including the segment of children's literature.

The speakers discussed effective methods for promoting reading, the social importance of books in modern culture and public life, and the education of young people. They emphasized the need to maintain the leading role of literature and the Russian language in the country's cultural and educational landscape.

They also discussed the potential and opportunities for the book industry, considering the rapid development of technology and digital services. The speakers highlighted the importance of supporting creative industries and fostering collaboration between different sectors.

Special attention was given to the interaction between the book industry and government officials, as well as the need for greater collaboration between all stakeholders in order to ensure the success of the industry.