By Samaneh Aboutalebi
TEHRAN – On Saturday, the Central Library of Tehran’s City Park hosted a meeting entitled “The Mission of Public Libraries: Iranian and Global Experiences.”
The session was attended by a number of Iranian scholars and librarians, as well as professionals from Malaysia, Brazil, India, Russia, and Turkey.
The gathering was organized by the Iran Public Libraries Foundation as a precursor to the 2nd edition of the International Conference of Public Libraries, which will focus on "Public Libraries and Small Businesses" and will take place in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province on October 17th and 18th.
During the session, Baqer Mirabdollahi, a deputy director of the foundation, stated that public libraries in different cultures and regions may differ, but by identifying common cultural elements, it is possible to create standardized global programs for libraries.
However, to determine the mission of each library, it is important to consider local requirements, he added.
Mirabdollahi also mentioned that in recent years, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has emphasized the issue of sustainable development.
According to IFLA, reading should lead people towards a better life and sustainable development is a fundamental human right, he mentioned.
For his part, Mohammadreza Harati, another deputy director of the foundation discussed the challenges of promoting reading in today's technologically advanced world. He emphasized the importance of sharing experiences to make children more book-friendly.
Harati also spoke about the upcoming conference in Mashhad, stating that it is the result of months of research and aims to develop small businesses related to books and reading.
Rashidah Bolhassan, the advisor on cultural heritage at the Ministry of Tourism, Creative and Performing Arts of Sarawak, Malaysia, also spoke at the event.
Bolhassan emphasized that the mission of public libraries should go beyond book lending.
To attract more people to public libraries, using new technologies and providing training to librarians is necessary, she added.
During the session, Iranian scholar Saeid Asadi addressed some of the challenges faced by public libraries. According to Asadi, lack of interest in book reading and outdated buildings and book collections are the primary issues faced by libraries.
O.N. Chaubey, a member of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the head of Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra Library in India, also discussed the importance of developing public libraries in India to promote reading habits.
Jorge Moises Kroll do Prado, President of the Brazilian Federation of Associations of Librarians, Information Scientists and Institutions (FEBAB), stated that despite the high costs, the Brazilian government has programs for supplying books to schools and public libraries.
He emphasized that the mission of libraries should be to create a welcoming atmosphere for book readers, rather than focusing on expensive book collections or luxurious buildings.
During the meeting, Mikhail Afanasiev, the director of the State Historical Public Library of Russia, spoke about the challenges faced by libraries in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which resulted in many closures. However, he noted that the government now prioritizes libraries as a tool for educating society and connecting people.
Afanasiev emphasized that books have the power to connect humans, and without libraries and books, culture cannot exist.
For his part, Turkish Librarians Association President Ali Fuat Kartal noted that public libraries are among the free services and therefore accept people without discrimination regardless of their differences.
He also emphasized that libraries should not be used as political tools by governments.
Iranian scholars Davoud Haseli and Fatemeh Sheikh Shoai, as well as Iranian librarians Zahra Abdollahi, Marzieh Yeganeh and Sakineh Qassempur also spoke at the meeting.
The 2nd International Conference of Public Libraries has the objective of identifying solutions, ideas, experiences, weaknesses, challenges, and prospects related to the use of public libraries to actively participate in the country's business environment.
The conference aims to provide a platform to highlight the role and place of public libraries in the economic growth of a country, particularly by supporting entrepreneurial activities and small businesses.
This will be achieved through the exchange of knowledge and expertise among professionals in the library and business sectors, to explore innovative ways of leveraging public libraries to drive economic growth.
The first edition of the conference with the theme of "Designing and Developing Public Libraries' Services: Patterns, Experiences, and Ideas" was held in Shiraz in April 2022 and was well-received by both domestic and international scholars.
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