Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan

Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan(before 12 April 2002-State Library of the Republic of Uzebekistan named after Alisher Navoi) was awarded with a status of national library according to the President’s Decree “On improvement of scientific and research activity”(20 February 2002, #YП-3029) and Cabinet of Ministers Decree “ On creation of the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi”(12 April 2002, #123).

The library was established in 1870 as Tashkent Public Library, Ministry of Public Education, Academy of Science, Public Library, Geographic Society and General Headquarters of Russia donated duplicates of their collections. The collection consisted of 2200 volumes (1200 titles) by May 1870.

Tashkent State Library was aimed at collecting and keeping materials on various fields of knowledge and in the first place documents related to region and neighboring countries. Famous Russian bibliographer V.I.Mezhov had collected materials on Turkestan region which founded creation of “Turkestan Collection”-monumental and original “encyclopedia” on Middle Asia. On May 11, 1872 Nikolai Dmitrovsky became the first Library’s director. Since August 1867 he had been working in Turkestan Office and was appointed assistant editor of “Turkenstanskie Vedomosti”. In 1883 Supervisory Committee was established. Members of the Committee were famous scientists, historians, educators and ethnographers. Creation of famous “Turkestan Album” aimed at describing life of settled and nomadic people of Turkestan region dates from early Library history. In 1920 the Library was given state status. According to the “Catalog of Turkestan Public Library manuscripts” compiled by academician A. Semenov, the manuscripts collection of the Library was 250 items by 1917.

In 1933 State Public Library was declared to be Central depository of oriental manuscripts in the republic.

In 1930-1940 State Public Library became methodology center for other republican libraries, over 3000 in number by that time. The Office of library science and bibliography for holding lectures, reviews, consultations was opened there.

In 1948 two important events took place: the Library was given the name of great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi and new three-level building with 350 seats reading rooms was opened. At the same time Rare Books Department was established. Its collection consisted of 2000 books including 250 books with autographs and 151 with ex-libris. Now this collection is over 16000 items.

In 1963 the new depository building for 600000 items with automated book delivery and air-tube dispatch was opened.

Since 1991-Independence Year-the Library has been focusing on acquisitions of literature in Uzbek language and promoting revival of spirituality and national cultural heritage.

Next important phase of the Library history started in 2002 with the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan “About improving the organization of the scientific-research activity” dated February 20, 2002/No. Y11-3029, established creation of the National Library of Uzbekistan by integration of the State Library of Uzbekistan and Republican Scientific-Technical Library. Resolution of the Cabinet of Uzbekistan “About establishing the National Library of Uzbekistan” dated April 12, 2002#123 defined the Library status as main depository of national and foreign print, Multifunctional library-information and research institution and methodology center for all information-library centers in Uzbekistan.

The new building of the National Library was built in 2011. There are 25 specialized reading rooms, more than 1 million registered readers since the opening of the new library building. The library is visited daily by over 2000 people, delivery of books a day on average 3200 editions.

With the assignment of the library in 2002, the status of the National, the definition of the mission, an extension of the main tasks and functions of international professional cooperation and collaboration in the activities of the library takes priority and serves as a means of performing its duties. Increase the responsibility of the National Library for the implementation of national and international programs, it became necessary to develop the concept of cooperation.

National Library of Uzbekistan is actively cooperation with the embassies of Germany, USA, China, Japan, Switzerland, Iran, Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine, as well as with international foundations and organizations such as the Goethe Institute, the Information Center at the US Embassy, the British Council, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and others. In partnership with the embassies of foreign countries national libraries library holds presentations, book exhibition, and open views of literature. As a result of the activities of the library funds significantly replenished with new literature donated.

Fund literature in foreign languages began to emerge from the opening day of the library and to date more than 370,000 publications in 75 languages. A greater role in foreign acquisitions plays an international book exchange. The National Library cooperates with foreign countries since 1956. Library partners are 35 foreign libraries from 18 countries.

Main goals

-acquisitions with national and foreign literature, preservation, study and processing of printed materials, manuscripts and other documents, their replenishment, enabling public access to Library materials and bibliographic information;
-promotion of national cultural and spiritual heritage and values of Uzbekistan people;
-development of united electronic database of Uzbekistan libraries collection, implementation of modern technology into librarianship;
-use of Internet to enable wide access to international bibliographic information;
-involvement in development and realization of national target and other programs in library activity;
-coordination of research and methodological work in library science, bibliography, bibliology and application of new technology in librarianship;
-international cooperation with libraries, participation in international library programs, exchange of experts and materials.

Main functions

-acquisition, preservation and enabling access to versatile documents, collections on all fields of knowledge and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan people;
-library and information services to users;
-forming of a fullest collection on the basis of two copies of legal deposit, purchase and exchange, including international exchange and other sources of acquisitions according to Uzbekistan legislation;
-forming of foreign literature collection of great cultural, scientific and artistic value;
-acquisition, storage and registration of materials related to Uzbekistan on a priority basis;
-providing registration and preservation of books and collections rated as history and culture monuments according to Uzbekistan legislation;
-participation in national registration of local publications, creation of bibliographic, abstract and analytical information;
-organization and conduct of bibliographic registration of all materials related to Uzbekistan published both inside and outside country by creation of national bibliographic sources;
-scientific processing and disclosure of the Library collections through catalogs and card indexes system;
-development of the national united electronic catalog, databases, enabling access to them and other national and foreign resources;
-survey of condition, description, conservation and restoration of documents, including materials rated as national heritage, history and culture monuments;
-research work in library science, bibliography, bibliogy and related fields, methodological assistance to other librarians;
-retraining of librarians;
-implementation of modern library technology;
-holding subject exhibitions, cultural and social events;
-international cooperation with libraries and other institutions in librarianship.

Library services:

1. Basic services

-using the Library reference and search tools (catalogs and card indexes), electronic catalog
-reference services, assistance in information selection
-loan of materials from all Library collections for use in reading rooms
-interlibrary loan
-access to electronic resources
-participation in Library events

Basic services are free of charge.

2. Extra services:

-Reader Pass issuance
-copying
-scanning
-printing out
-personal computer for text typing, editing etc.
-making bibliographic reference by subject using Library catalogs and card indexes
-training courses on IT skills and foreign languages
-data recording to electronic media by request
-Information-bibliographic service for organizations and institutions on the basis of agreements. See the pricelist: (http://natlib.uz/articles/424/)

Extra services are paid.

3. Distant service

Users can get access to the Library electronic resources through the webpage www.natlib.uz.

Shanghai Library and Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan established the cooperation in 2012.

 

(Photos provided by Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan)