Libraries play an essential role in education, culture, and community development. They are invaluable resources for accessing knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering intellectual growth. Even in our modern information society, libraries remain critical institutions for promoting education and self-development for people of all ages.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan highlighted this during the opening ceremony of the People’s Library under the President of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, stating, “Intellectual potential, high morale is what makes a nation strong. The source of this invincible power is books and libraries – the great invention of mankind.” This sentiment underscores the Uzbek government’s commitment to enhancing its educational system and promoting a culture of reading.
Educational reforms and achievements
At the forefront of Uzbekistan’s state policy is the development of education. The government has recognized the pivotal role education plays in the country’s prosperity and has undertaken significant efforts to modernize the educational system. These reforms aim to improve the quality of education, provide comprehensive training, and ensure access to education for all citizens.
Recent years have seen notable successes in this area, with particular attention given to promoting reading and cultivating a reading culture among the population. A key milestone was the Presidential Decree adopted on September 13, 2017, titled “On the program of comprehensive measures to develop the system of publishing and distributing book products, improving the culture of reading.” This decree outlined clear goals for creating an effective system of information and library services. It marked a new development phase, enhancing social and informational culture, and raising libraries’ roles by implementing innovative educational technologies.
Enhancing library services
Furthering these efforts, the Presidential Decree “On further improvement of information and library services for the population of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” adopted on June 7, 2019, laid out several goals:
– Improving the regulatory framework to ensure high-quality social guarantees for library services.
– Developing library institutions to meet modern requirements.
– Promoting sustainable development of library services across regions.
– Strengthening the material and technical base of libraries.
– Fostering public-private partnerships in the library sector and expanding private and electronic libraries.
– Enhancing cooperation with online resources specializing in electronic books to improve library efficiency and service quality.
– Ensuring the safety of library collections as part of the national and world cultural heritage.
– Promoting an information culture, a sustainable interest in national history and culture, and a strong reading culture.
– Staffing libraries with qualified professionals.
The decree expanded the range of library services, including access to electronic resources, cultural and educational events, and improved staff training and modern user service methods. These changes not only contribute to developing an information society and economic growth by attracting investment in education and culture but also promote a literate and informed society, which is a crucial step in the country’s development.
National program for reading culture
The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated December 14, 2020, approved the National Program for the Development and Support of a Reading Culture for 2020-2025. This program includes publishing quality books that meet the population’s spiritual, educational, artistic, and aesthetic needs, supporting publishers and artists, publishing children’s literature, translating the best national and world literature, simplifying book sales organization, improving delivery systems for new books, and expanding international cooperation for online ordering of foreign works.
Within the framework of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy, there is a strong emphasis on popularizing masterpieces of Uzbek and world literature. The strategy sets ambitious goals, such as increasing the number of young book lovers to five million, creating 100 works of art and 50 books for children and adolescents annually, publishing the multi-volume book “Uzbek adabiyoti khazinasidan” (“From the Treasury of Uzbek Literature”), and the 100-volume book “Jakhon Bolalar Adabiyoti Durdonalari” (“Pearls of World Children’s Literature”) in Uzbek, and digitalizing a book fund of nearly 40 million books.
Initiatives for Youth Reading
On November 28, 2023, the Presidential Decree “On measures to implement the project ‘A Thousand Books for Youth’” was signed. This project aims to create a system for translating popular global books into Uzbek, enhancing the younger generation’s intellectual and scientific potential.
Additionally, the “Olympiad of Five Initiatives” implements five annual projects in reading and intellectual games: “Young Reading Family,” “Poetry Competition,” “Young Reader,” the intellectual game “Zakovat,” and the “Example of Foreign Languages” project. These initiatives increase young people’s interest in reading and expand their logical thinking and knowledge through intellectual games.
The “Young Reader” and “Young Reading Family” competitions are significant events promoting reading, spiritual enrichment, and increasing young people’s intellectual potential. These competitions aim to spark interest in books among the youth, expanding their knowledge and horizons.
Support for publishing
The “A Thousand Books for Youth” project involves the Agency for Youth Affairs acquiring rights to use works from authors, translating them into Uzbek, and preparing them for printing and publishing at the state’s expense. The project includes two stages: an expert council forms a preliminary list of books, then the public votes on this list to finalize it.
The list of books published annually includes at least 20 percent popular science works. The Agency for Youth Affairs will hold the rights to these works, providing them free of charge to publishing houses. Moreover, a special mobile application is planned to provide free access to a wide range of literature in the Uzbek language.
Digital and Educational Innovations
The necessary spiritual, legal, material, and technical bases have been established in Uzbekistan to develop children’s literature and improve the quality of textbooks and teaching aids. The country’s publishing houses have increased the publication of works by authors of world and Uzbek children’s literature. A series of documents promoting book reading have led to systematic measures in all regions to popularize literature among children and adolescents.
Libraries as cultural centres
Bibliographical information services are crucial for ensuring public well-being by providing easy access to information, knowledge, and culture. The development of digital services, collaboration with communities, and the use of new technologies strengthen libraries’ roles as centers of learning, information, and communication. This enhances people’s capabilities and stimulates their desire for education. The growth of information and library services’ potential contributes to lifelong learning, self-improvement, and the population’s cultural and spiritual enrichment. This is of paramount importance for modern society.
Author: Ramzidin Nuridinov, Expert of the Development Strategy Centre.
