XIII International Conference “Central Asia – 2019: Internet and information library resources in science, education, culture and business” kicks off in Urgench

On April 24, the XIII International Conference “Central Asia – 2019: Internet and information library resources in science, education, culture and business” started in Urgench.

Regional governor of Khorezm Farkhod Ermanov opened the event. It is attended by international experts, employees of information-library and information-resource centers, libraries, publishing houses, archives, heads and specialists of museums, scientists, teachers of educational institutions, ICT specialists, public figures, representatives of ministries and departments from more than 10 countries.

At the conference, the first deputy director of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Avazbek Khodjimetov delivered a speech. He presented to the participants, including international experts, detailed information on the current state of the industry, measures implemented by the Agency for Information and Mass Communications aimed at promoting reading among the population, developing libraries and information-resource centers, and new projects.

“This international conference opens up a new stage and perspectives in the development of information-library resources. Participation of professional specialists from other countries will facilitate a valuable exchange of experience with national employees in the industry,” Avaz Khodjimetov said.

It was noted at the event that a presidential decree was passed on development of the information-library sector of Uzbekistan. In particular, for the purposes of its execution, a lot of work was done to provide libraries of educational institutions with appropriate literary funds, such projects as creating audio versions of works of Uzbek and world literature were implemented, Bibliobuses started their activities in rural areas, the public had wide access to e-books using QR codes.

“On the basis of five initiatives put forward by the head of state, unprecedented projects are being conducted to popularize books and enrich library collections. I am sure that this international conference will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas and experience in the development and systematization of library activities on a modern basis, propagation and organization of additional conditions for reading books,” the first deputy director of the Agency said.

At the international conference, the Chief Executive Officer of the US Library Foundation Merris Sumrall, the director of the National Library of Belarus Roman Motulsky and other international experts also spoke about significance of the international conference and relevance of the issues discussed.

On the first day of the conference, presentations were made on such topics as “Library 4.0 – the future model of library services ”, “Content management system capabilities: Information literacy solutions and library programs ”, “Aggregator of scientific innovations as an information resource and base for analytical research”, “Digital collections as a format for organizing electronic complexes: the experience of the Presidential library”, “Current state and prospects for development of the library and information sphere in the Republic of Uzbekistan”.