Moscow holds Kazakh literature exhibition

Moscow holds Kazakh literature exhibition

An exhibition dedicated to the works of three Kazakh poets Abai Kunanbayev, Zhambyl Zhabayev and Mukagali Makatayev opened in Moscow. The exposition, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, presents valuable and unique publications from Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s library funds. For example, there is an original first printed edition of Abai’s works. The book was published in 1909 in St. Petersburg in Arabic script in the Kazakh language. The exhibition is being held within the international project ‘By the Roads of Memory and Peace’ of the Kazakhstan National Academic Library. One of its important tasks is the formation of a database and the collection of materials about library funds.

“There are about 47 million documents in our Library and about 50,000 Kazakh books occupy major part. There are really valuable, rare ones among them. Together with our friends from Kazakhstan, we decided that it is very important to show books from our funds, and to make sure that they draw attention of the audience,” said Vadim Duda, Director General, Russian State Library.

“We plan to visit the city of Rzhev, where many of our compatriots died in the battles during the WWII. A meeting with librarians is supposed to be held there. It is planned to visit the city of Omsk. We intend to strengthen the link between Omsk and Kazakh libraries,” said writer Bayangali Alimzhanov.

 

Translation by Saule Mukhamejanova