The 130th anniversary of the first library was celebrated in Turkmenistan

The State Library of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan hosted a solemn event dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the founding of the first library in the country. Arzuw.news reports with reference to Turkmenistan: Golden Age.

The celebration brought together readers, librarians and representatives of the cultural sphere to discuss the historical significance and modern development of one of the oldest cultural institutions of the republic. The most active employees received commemorative gifts in honor of the anniversary.

The history of the library dates back to August 1895, when the Transcaspian Regional Public Library was established with a collection of several thousand books. Even the devastating earthquake of 1948, which destroyed the building and the book fund, could not stop the work of the institution - the activity resumed in a few months.

At present, the State Library has a collection of more than 5.6 million publications. The institution is actively introducing digital technologies, digitizing its collections and functioning within the framework of the Unified Electronic Library System.

Librarians regularly hold roadshows, literary evenings and literature reviews to popularize reading among the public.

In January 2025, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree approving the State Program for the Development of the Library Sphere for 2025-2029, which emphasizes the importance of librarianship in the cultural policy of the state.