Conference “Dissemination of cultural heritage in regions and new challenges for the county public libraries”

2012-05-18

The County Public Libraries Association (CPLA) organized conference "Dissemination of cultural heritage in regions and new challenges for the county public libraries" on May 15-16. It was participated by representatives of the National Library: Director General of the National Library Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Deputy Director General responsible for Administration and Human Resources Algirdas Tamulevičius and director of National Centre for Digitization and Virtual Electronic Heritage System Dr. Regina Varnienė-Janssen.

Director General of the National Library Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, welcoming conference participants, emphasized importance of "Regional Culture Development Programme for 2012-2020", aiming to allow cultural access and dissemination by increasing attractiveness of regions for local communities and investors. R. Gudauskas also drew attention to the fact, that libraries have to work in varying conditions, consequently they must not only innovate but also to work together, making use of the intellectual, financial and human resources for common objectives.

Dr. R. Varnienė-Janssen (in her report "VEPS – prospects of dissemination of cultural heritage in regions") highlighted the necessity to prepare document, coordinating memory and other cultural institutions concerning creation of integral content of digitized cultural heritage. Generalizing Dr. R. Varnienė-Janssen identified key areas for further cooperation: dissemination of digitized Lithuanian cultural heritage, including more regional libraries and museums; development of professional competencies; selection of digitized objects, description, filling knowledge bases; publicity and dissemination of good practice of region's heritage as a regional cultural memory.

ASSECO Director General Dr. Albertas Šermokas presented renewed webpage www.epaveldas.lt; it became more convenient and attractive to consumers.

Another day of the conference was dedicated to discussion. It was started by Deputy Director General responsible for Administration and Human Resources Algirdas Tamulevičius. In his opinion, activity of libraries system is poorly regulated; consequently it raises some barriers for effective and coordinated activity.

Prof. R. Gudauskas discussed panorama of Lithuania's information society structure and place of libraries in the system.