News

In Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, the International Congress on “Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia and Azerbaijan” continued its work on November 14 with thematic sessions organized by several institutions, including the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, the Committee on Religious Affairs, the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi, the Cinema Agency, the National Television and Radio Company, the Academy of Arts, the Youth Affairs Agency, the Writers’ Union, and the Union of Composers and Musicians.

The Azerbaijan National Library was represented at the international conference “From Clay Tablets to Digital Archives: The Path of Central Asian Libraries.” The Director of the Azerbaijan National Library, Professor Karim Tahirov, delivered a presentation titled “The Role of the Azerbaijan National Library in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.”

In his speech, he spoke about the projects implemented by the National Library, which has created and preserves a rich archival collection for future generations. He emphasized the importance of the library’s holdings, including early examples of Azerbaijani book culture, a unique periodical press archive that represents a significant part of media history, rare books in nearly 20 languages, fundamental research works across various scientific fields, and the unique “Sound Recordings Fund.”

He also highlighted the centuries-old development of Azerbaijani music, the role of the National Library in preserving and transmitting musical heritage, and projects aimed at its promotion. Among them are the “Electronic Music Library” and the “Return of Our National-Spiritual Values” project, which aims to identify, digitize, and repatriate valuable manuscripts of Azerbaijani classics preserved in foreign libraries and museums.

It was noted that the event brought together directors and representatives of national libraries of Central Asia, heads of rare manuscript and book departments, specialists in digitization and archival work, as well as experts in library and information science. A book exhibition titled “One Past – A Common Future” was also organized, showcasing publications reflecting the cultural, historical, and spiritual heritage of participating countries. These books will be donated to the newly established Library of the Uzbekistan Islamic Civilization Center to strengthen cultural ties between peoples.

Within the framework of the congress, scientific and publishing projects, documentary films, and interactive media formats dedicated to the study, preservation, and promotion of Uzbekistan’s cultural and spiritual heritage are also being presented, along with special exhibitions highlighting the contributions of Central Asian countries to world civilization.