Nazarbayev University School of Library Technologies: Training, Networking, and Innovation for Kazakhstani librarians

For the fourth time, Nazarbayev University Library hosted The School of Library Technologies, between December 3rd and 6th.   The “School” is a week-long seminar that combined a series of lectures and workshops and is aimed at professional development of the academic staff in libraries in Kazakhstan. This year’s theme was “Modern Academic Library: management, resources, technologies, and forms of service” and had the following lectures and workshops, of note:  

• “Development of professional qualities of a manager”, “Design of thinking”;
•  “Creation of an institutional repository on the example of the Nazarbayev University repository”;
• “Information literacy. Formation of media literacy”.

There were 35 participants that came from 12 different regions in Kazakhstan who took part in the seminar including.  We welcomed participants from Aktobe, Almaty, Arkalyk, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kostanay, Nur-Sultan, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, Taraz, Taldykorgan and Uralsk.

In addition, to the librarians of Nazarbayev University, there were also regional representatives of Clarivate Analytics who shared their knowledge and experience with the guests of the program.

During the seminar, NU librarians reported on the important directions in library development such as subscriptions to electronic resources shared their experience of creating an institutional repository and discussed the nuances in processes like searching impact-indicators, choosing a journal for publication, data management, as well as the role and duties of subject librarians.

On the last day, all participants took a test to assess the knowledge and skills they acquired during the workshops and lectures. At the end of the program, participants received certificates confirming their successful completion of the courses at the School of Library Technologies.

The School of Library Technologies is not only a training center to advance leadership and professional skills of Kazakhstani academic library managers and experts but also serves as an important role in the networking of the region’s librarians.  It is not just training, but rather the making of connections and new friendships that make the event so meaningful. Guests exchange ideas, are motivated to becoming innovators at their home institutions, and discuss how to incorporate new technologies and latest practices at their workplaces. Starting from 2012, NU Library and the Association of University Libraries in the Republic of Kazakhstan joined hands to organize a series of seminars and meetings for professional development and sharing experience. The information about upcoming educational events can be found on the Academic Libraries Association’s official website.