On October 7, Librarian’s Day, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Library Association held the award ceremony of the “Best Library” competition at Khnko Aper National Children’s Library.

The event was attended by the president of the Armenian Library Association, director of Khnko Aper National Children’s Library Ruzan Tonoyan, honoured Cultural Worker of the RA, chairman of the evaluation committee of the competition Fatma Khachatryan, scientific head of the basic library of the RA NAS, member of the committee Tigran Zargaryan, honoured cultural worker of RA, member of the evaluation committee Hasmik Karapetyan, vice president of the Armenian Library Association Rafik Ghazaryan, president of the Union of Writers of Armenia Edward Militonyan, representatives of “Antares”, “Zangak”, “Edit Print” publishing houses and cultural figures.

Within the framework of the event, a video was shown in the library hall telling about the best libraries in the world, followed by a demonstration of videos representing Armenian libraries and famous librarians of the world.

In the “Best Library” competition, the following libraries were recognized as winners in the nominations:

“The best regional library ” – Aragatsotn regional library after Vardges Petrosyan
“The best public library” – “GAVAR City Library” SNCO,
“The best professional/ academical  Library” – the Scientific Library of the Armenian State University of Economics,
“The best school Library” – the Library of the “Shirakatsy Lyceum” International Scientific-Educational Complex,
“The best cultural and educational library” – Gegharkunik Regional Library named after Vardges  Petrosyan:

Another 6 libraries that applied for “Best Library” competition were awarded certificates of honor.

“The best professional/ academical library “- Scentific library of Armenian National Agrarian University
“The best school  library “- Library of Meghri N 2 secondary school
“The best school  library ” – Library of St. Gregory the Illuminator Primary School No. 2 of Stepanavan
“The best innovative  library “- Etchmiadzin Central Library named after Hovhannes Hovhannisyan
“The best community library “- Karakert community center of Armavir region,
“The best educational and cultural” Shirak regional library.

With the support of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the “Armenian Library Association” NGO announces “The Best Library” competition.

The purpose of “Тhe Best Library” contest is to publicize libraries, encourage the best works, highlight the role of the library and the librarian, promote the development of the library sector, improve the quality of services, and introduce innovative ideas which are aimed to promote reading.

All libraries operating in RA can participate in the contest.

The professional commission evaluates the applications submitted to the competition.

The contest is held in four stages.

*Acceptance of applications

* Discussion and evaluation of applications

* Summary of results

* Presentation of prizes

The contest is held in the following categories:

1. “The Best community library”
2. “The Best regional library”
3. “The Best Innovative Library”
4. “The Best educational and cultural library”
5. “The Best Professional/Academcal Library”
6. “The Best School Library”

Applications for participation in the contest and required documents must be sent to lavaguyngradaran@gmail.com by September 24.

Winner libraries will be awarded with special prizes. The award ceremony will take place on October 7, 2024, Librarian’s Day.

On August 19-23, within the framework of the EU4dialogue program, the summer school entitled “Library as a cultural platform of the community” was held at the initiative of the National Library of Latvia. The goal of the project was the exchange of experience of library professionals, the development of professional skills and abilities.

The participants visited urban and rural libraries, museums, cultural centers of 5 cities of Latvia in order to exchange experience in the framework of the five-day school. In these cultural institutions, the program participants passed 4 thematic master courses to get new professional knowledge, abilities and ideas. The participants also established contacts with local specialists in the library field, which will contribute to strengthen the foundations of further cooperation.

The participants of the summer school also had the opportunity to present their activities and share their experience.

The employees of Khnko Aper National Children’s and Armenia’s National Libraries ,and Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute made speeches. Naira Atsemyan, head of the development programs and international cooperation department of Khnko Aper National Children’s Library , spoke about “Promotion of reading for children and adolescents in Armenia: The experience of Khnko Aper National Children’s Library “, Julieta Aghabekyan, specialist of the external relations department of the National Library of Armenia, “Unlocking access. Collaboration with WIPO and the ABC Consortium in promoting; The Experience of the National Library of Armenia”, and Anna Ghazaryan, junior researcher of the Department of Source Studies of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, “Remembering the past, educating the future. Exhibition and library activities of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute”.

Let us remind that 10 librarians and representatives of the library industry from 8 libraries of Armenia participated in the summer school entitled “Library as a cultural platform of the community”.

The program “Librarians training courses” implemented by Armenian Library Association has come to an end.

From May 20-24 and June 3-7 of the current year, 24 librarians from Artashat and Yerevan community libraries and cultural centers participated to the trainings.

During 5-day training course the skillful librarians and sphere’s leading specialists of Khnko Aper National Children’s Library gave relevant knowledge and practical skills to the participants of the courses regard to the different functions of library work.

Within the frameworks of the program up-to-date problems and new approaches of organizing library works, up-to -date functions of library work, useful skills of new techniques and toolkits were presented to the participants.

The librarians participated in theoretical and practical trainings aimed to raise the level of media literacy and other issues of the field, and shared their professional experience.

These newly gained knowledge and skills are aimed at improving library work, helping to overcome challenges.

The participants were awarded with certificates of completion at the end of the program.

On October 19, 2018 the representatives of the Arabic Kalimat foundation were in Armenia. In cooperation with ALA (Armenian Library Association) they donated 1000 Arabic books to Armenian libraries. On October, 100 Arabic books were donated to National Children’s Library after Khnko Aper, Nor Nork  Central, Armavir and Aragatsotn regional libraries together with mobile bookshelves. In November and December the process of donation of books and mobile bookshelves continued and was later summed up. Kotayq’s, Syuniq’s , Vayoc Dzor’s, Tavush’s, Shirak’s regional libraries were replenished with 100 Arabic books. On November 23 the library of G. Ashot Cultural Center accepted the present of books together with a mobile bookshelf on closing ceremony of “Goris: CIS Cultural Centre 2018” international program.

On October 17-21, 2018 the director of Music Fund of Ufficio Ricerca in Milan Massimo Gentili-Tedeschi visited Armenia. Enclosed is his report.

Report of visit

This year the National Children’s Library after Khnko Aper celebrated the 85th anniversary of its foundation. Within the scope of various events devoted to the 85th anniversary of the library scientific-practical meetings took place. On October 17 a conference took place with the participation of foreign guests. The speakers of the meeting were the head of the UFFICIO Ricordi Music Foundation Massimo Gentili Tedeschi, who spoke on catalogisation and modern skills necessary for the librarians, IBBY Executive Director Liz Page, who spoke on the activities of IBBY National Sections in promotion of reading and evaluated IBBY Armenia as an active participant. The Iranian children’s writer Farhad Hasanzade presented his way of writing for children. Gayane Karapetyan spoke about National Children’s library activity.
On October 18 a round table-discussion with the heading “Prospects for cooperation: IBBY, IFLA, IAML” was held. Libraries’ directors, young specialists of the sphere were present. The director of National Children’s Library R. Tonoyan spoke on the implemented programs within the cooperation of IBBY, IFLA, IAML, in the context of which IBBY Executive Director Liz Page mentioned that IBBY Armenia was founded in 2012 and talked about important programs which were implemented together during this time. “”IBBY Armenia” makes great efforts to unite children around the book, – added R. Tonoyan, highlighting that the library is already a member of IFLA. The speakers were the representative of IFLA and IAML, the head of the UFFICIO Ricordi Music Foundation Massimo Gentili Tedeschi, one of the top five of IBBY Shortlist for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Awards Iranian children’s writer Farhad Hasanzade. Director of National Library of Armenia T. Zargaryan,  director of Isahakyan Central Library H. Karapetyan, other participants of the discussion-children’s writer A. Serobyan, N. Arzumanyan (Nor Nork Central library), S. Hovhannisyan  (“Arevik” publishing house), S. Karapetyan ( “Edit Print” publishing house) spoke on library work, professional education, problems of children’s writing, the role and meaning of the book in RA.

In 2018 due to cooperation of ALA and Kalimat foundation for Children’s Empowerment, the foundation will donate 1000 Arabic books to the RA libraries. On October 19, 100 Arabic books were donated to the National Children’s Library after Khnko Aper, Nor Nork Central , Armavir and Aragatsotn regional libraries together with beautiful mobile bookshelves. Soon other libraries will be replenished with Arabic literature through coordination of ALA.  Replenishment of libraries with Arabic literature provides opportunity to study Arabic and get acquainted to Arabic history, literature, art and culture, living and traditions in original language.
Let us mention, that Kalimat Arabic foundation was in Armenia thanks to the initiative of IBBY UAE.