The Vitebsk Regional Library named after V. Lenin celebrated its 90th anniversary with a series of cultural and educational events
The main event of the festive program was the international scientific and practical conference "The History of the Library in the History of the Small Motherland," chaired by Roman Motulsky, Director of the National Library of Belarus, and Tatyana Adamyan, Director of the Regional Library. With the participation of specialists from the Ministry of Culture, the country's main book depository, the scientific library of BNTU, the Gomel and Pskov (Russian Federation) regional libraries, the Vitebsk district library, and the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region, the regional museum of local lore, potential opportunities for preserving and popularizing the region's historical and cultural heritage, the significance of local history tourism as a brand of the native land, and international library connections yesterday and today were discussed. The conference continued with a round table meeting "Libraries in the Information Society: Current Issues of Activity." Here, the discussion focused on professional achievements and challenges, self-education as the main condition for developing librarians' competencies, and the initiatives of the Belarusian Library Association.
The organizers timed the presentation of the book "Zabava: Narodnaya Tsatska i Lyal'ka Vitiebschyny" by the reputable Vitebsk art critic Lyudmila Vakar to coincide with the grand opening of the Department of Local History Literature and Bibliography, which was preceded by a thorough reconstruction of a more spacious premises than before and the installation of the latest equipment.
In the library foyer, with the assistance of the Goethe-Institut in Minsk, an exhibition of graphic novels from the series "Berlin Myths" by the renowned German illustrator and comic artist, multiple award winner Reinhard Kleist, has been organized.
The presentation of the timerography project "The City of Marc Chagall" by Vitebsk local historian and photographer Viktor Borisenkov also generated great interest. All of this is a unique anniversary gift to the numerous library readers, which today is a popular exhibition center in Vitebsk. Guests were also offered a tour of the library and the Museum of the History of the Vitebsk People's Art School.
The staff, guests, veterans of librarianship of different generations, and active readers were united by a festive evening in honor of the 90th anniversary of the book flagship of the Vitebsk region. The best representatives were awarded honorary diplomas from the regional executive committee and the regional council of deputies, diplomas and acknowledgments from the Vitebsk city executive committee and city council, and awards from the regional branch of the Union of Writers of Belarus and the Vitebsk Orthodox Diocese. The celebration was adorned with performances by well-known creative groups of the regional center. In short, the anniversary was a success.