On 24 October, the New York-based YIVO Institute for Jewish Research presented a body of Jewish documents of invaluable historical significance preserved by the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and discovered in the basement of the St. George Church (formerly the Chamber of Books) in Vilnius, where they had been hidden during WWII. The materials were previously thought to have been destroyed during the Holocaust.

Hidden in the basement of the St. George Church in Lithuania for nearly 70 years, a trove of lost documents thought to have been destroyed in the Holocaust has been discovered by the Yivo Institute for Jewish Research.

On the 17th of October The New York Times published an extensive announcement about the discovery of a trove of lost Jewish materials which was first hidden during the wartime years and stored in secret in the basement of St. George Church (the former Book Chamber).

On the 17th and 18th of October, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania took part in the event held in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to the International Print Day and the 500th anniversary of the humanist Francysk Skarina.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with embassies of Latin American countries accredited to Lithuania and their honorary consuls, invite dwellers and guests of Vilnius to get to know more about the rich history and culture of Latin American countries. During the months of October and November different events will bring us closer to Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Guatemala.

The twin cataclysms of 20^th Century history—the Holocaust and 75 years of Soviet rule—resulted not simply in the extermination of European Jewry, but also in the erasure of European Jewish culture and a fundamental disruption of the narrative of national survival.

On 19–25 of August, the 83rd general conference and assembly of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) took place in Wroclaw, Poland under the title of Libraries. Solidarity. Society.

On the 17th of August, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, met with the delegation of the National Library of China headed by the Deputy Director Sun Yigang. The meeting provided an occasion to discuss the initiatives and fields of cooperation between both institutions. The participants also exchanged symbolic gifts.

We grow fastest when we share our experience with those who pursue the same goals. This is exemplified by a public library innovation seminar held at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania between the 16th and 17th of August under the Young African Innovators Initiative (YALI) of the non-governmental organization Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL). The events and visits that took place in Lithuania and Poland between the 14th and 15th of August were aimed at providing the representatives of African public libraries with the experiences and ideas of other developing countries and countries in transition.

Interview with Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania in the run-up to the IFLA Conference

Language is not just a tool of communication. It is an extremely interesting multi-layered structure encoding the experiences of the nation who fosters and develops it – its history, culture, and contacts with foreigners and their traces. A “pure” language untouched by other languages is an exception to the rule. In fact, there are virtually no pure languages in Europe. A quick glance at the dictionary can easily reveal the cross influences between different languages. For example, you can come across French words that have similar forms in the German language, and vice versa.

Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience of learning the art of playing 88 keys with 4 hands or, to put it simply, sharing the same instrument with another player. Or maybe you are looking for a place to relax and unwind? Our Music Space can be booked for 1-hour sessions of meditation, quiet time and relaxation accompanied by soothing music. All of our friends who love music are welcome to register for the activities held at the National Library during the month of August.

How knowledgeable are you about Israeli cinema? Many of us would probably blush upon hearing this question. Based on your general knowledge, perhaps you would guess that these are films about the history of Israel, Christianity, or Arab-Israeli relations. Hardly anyone, however, could mention specific films, their directors or cast members. Is it because we are two distant neighbours in terms of culture, history and geography? It is about time we got to know each other a little better.

In light of global developments, increasing migration flows and issues relating to the social integration of foreign nationals, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania is launching a new project aimed at developing the competences of library staff in order to facilitate and promote intercultural and informational migrant education.

A Litvak is both a real individual and a stereotype. True Litvaks make stuffed fish (gefilte) with pepper but not sugar, and they speak in a specific Yiddish dialect. However, they are also known for their intellectual, rational and ascetic tendencies as well as other elitist characteristics that might make them incredibly boring people to spend time with. Some Jews even believed that Litvaks were tseylem-kep, i.e., that they were hiding a crucifix in their heads. 

Are you interested in IT? Programming? Are you into 3D or graphic design or game development? Or do you already work in one of these fields, but would like to improve your knowledge and learn something new? We have good news for you – in 2017, you can use free access provided by the National Library to www.pluralsight.com courses in English.

Genealogy and Local History Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)  jointly with Asia, Oceania and Information Technology Sections, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and Institute of Library and Information Sciences, Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University invite you to a joint open session of the IFLA Satellite Meeting, which will be held on 16–17 August. The theme of the session is The Challenge of Multiple Identities. Multiethnicity in Genealogy, Local History and Regional Memory – Challenges and Opportunities for Libraries and other Memory Institutions.

On 22 June, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania was visited by a delegation from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research as part of the international Lithuania & Poland Study Tour: exclusively for YIVO. The guide of this tour is Samuel Kassow, Professor of Trinity College (USA), who gave a lecture The Uniqueness of Jewish Vilnius during the opening of the Judaica Research Centre on 23 May.

On 5 June, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Lithuanian Memory of the World National Committee established by UNESCO, the Directorate of the State Cultural Reserve of Kernavė hosted a ceremony of awarding certificates to five custodians of documentary heritage whose documents or collections were entered into the National Register this year.

On 15–16 May, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania participated in the 31st Conference of European National Librarians (CENL) in the British Library, London.