Libraries of Russia: All-Russian forum of public libraries opens in St. - Petersburg

The 2^nd All-Russian forum of public libraries “Public libraries. Challenges of the time” opens in St. - Petersburg.

Its mission is to consolidate the efforts of library community in the current state, prevent the dramatic cut of financial and material support of public libraries on the part of the authorities and local government.

During the work of the forum the participants will discuss a wide range of issues, among them the library service and status of public libraries in the time of the economic crisis. They will focus on the priority directions of libraries’ policy and the work of government bodies in accordance with the address to the President of the Russian Federation, adopted at the 1^st All-Russian forum of public libraries in December, 2007.

The forum will bring together about 400 participants from 48 regions, krais and republics of Russia. It will attract the librarians, authorities, policy makers, publishers, representatives of trade companies.

Forum’s plenary sessions will take place in the building of the National Library of Russia. Thematic round tables will work on the basis of leading public libraries of St. - Petersburg. The forum’s participants will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library.