ACTIVITIES
Since its establishment, the Association has had the purpose of utilizing the specialized abilities of its members for the development of library work in Armenia, to improve access to services and resources by means of modern methods and computer technology.
Toward this end, Association members have enthusiastically participated in approving government documents concerning library work, developing library legislation. The Association has organized and implemented numerous and various types of library programs, as follow:
- 10 May 1995, together with the National Library of Armenia and the National Book Chamber of Armenia, a round table on the subject of The current status of the receipt of obligatory copies of documents of the Republic of Armenia and visions of cooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent States.
- 10 July 1996, a round table on the status of Armenia's libraries, with presentations by representatives from the National Library of Armenia, Yerevan State University Scientific Library, Khnko Apor Children's Library, Republican Scientific-Medical Library, Republican Scientific-Technical Library, and others. As a result, it was decided to send a record of the proceedings of the round table to government bodies.
- One of the important outcomes of the Association's work has been the organization of annual conferences. This is in fact the most important activity of the Association, during which library workers bring forward many questions needing resolution. Decisions of the annual meeting are disseminated to libraries and become programmatic documents for all libraries.
- The Association implements various types of large and small programs. Among these should be mentioned the subscription for Armenia's libraries, through the support of Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation Armenian Branch, to the EBSCO publishing company's EIFLDirect databases.
- Taking into account the low probability of Internet access in Armenia, approval was given to secure CD and DVD subscriptions for libraries. From January to June 2000, through a Technical means for participants in the EIFLDirect program grant, 9 regional libraries acquired DVD drivers.
- In cooperation with the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), the Armenian board of the Internet Access and Training Program is currently preparing to mount home pages on the World Wide Web for the Armenian Library Association and regional public libraries.
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR LIBRARIANS
One of the main priorities for the Association is the organization of continuing education courses for Armenian librarians.
- March to June 1998, 78 library workers from 9 libraries in Yerevan participated in a 4-session course on Education of Library Workers
- 21 to 24 October 1998, a 3-day seminar in Yerevan for 18 representatives from 9 regional libraries of the Republic
- March to April 1999, together with the Ararat republican regional library, a 3-week training course for 60 library workers
- December 2000 – April 2001, Empowering Armenian Library Professionals: A Continuing Education Seminar Series, 6 seminars with more than 100 participants from Yerevan and regional libraries. Support was provided by the Alumni Local Initiative Grants Program, which is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State (ECA)
- The Association cooperates with Armenia's only institution of higher education for the preparation of library specialists, the faculty of library science and bibliography of the Khachatur Abovian Armenian Pedagogical University. The Association has organized lectures by American library specialists for the student body.
- Many of the Association's members participate in various types of international scholarly conferences, seminars and retrainings. Numerous representatives of the Association are participating in the largest conferences convened throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States, the annual conferences in Crimea.
- In December 1998, in cooperation with the Russian Library Association, St. Petersburg Library Association member, Karine Arabyan participated in the planning of the seminar, The role of special organizations in the work of shaping the library into a modern facility. Several members of the Association have also participated in the Open Society Institute Central European University, Budapest, summer school program
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