The scientific-methodological journal “Bulletin of Armenian Libraries” has been published by the National Library of Armenia since 2015 (2015–2019, 2021–present). The journal is intended for professionals and researchers in the fields of library science, bibliography, museology, archival studies, publishing and other related disciplines. “Bulletin of Armenian Libraries” is a fully open access journal. All articles are made freely available to readers immediately upon publication, without subscription fees or registration barriers.
THE LITERARY LEGACY OF CHARLES-TIRAN TEKEYAN AND THE ARMENIANS’ RESCUE MISSION DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CONCEPT
The purpose of the article is to show the Armenian-French cultural, historical and political ties during the First World War of 1915. In particular, for the assistance provided by the French navy during the Armenian self-defense battles and for the great humanitarian attitude. All this found its place in the form of facts in the memoirs of Sh. T. Tekeyan, a marine of Armenian origin, who was directly involved in the rescue of Armenians. The memoirs were published in Paris in 1919 and, after many years of oblivion, translated from French into Armenian. Other publications about that period and events were also included in the article.
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LIBRARY DIPLOMACY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
Diplomacy of library culture, as a direction of the state's foreign policy, implies the exchange of book idea, information, value system, documents, and other elements between different countries and people in order to strengthen the library matter. The term “diplomacy” relates to the ancient Greek word “diploma”, which means “a double-folded document containing official agreements, decisions”. In addition to political diplomacy, there is also second-track diplomacy, i.e. non-governmental, unofficial connections and activities between private citizens or groups of individuals. It is also important the modern international digital diplomacy and its implementation through global social networks. Unlike traditional diplomacy, digital diplomacy works differently by facilitating access to knowledge, bridging exchanges between scientific research and policy. In the article, an attempt was made to define the place of international activity of libraries in the system of international relations of culture. In addition, to develop the work of libraries with foreign libraries and librarian associations, specialized cultural, informational, educational, scientific organizations and institutions.
STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE IN LINGUISTIC WORKS
The aim of the study is to analyze the structure of scientific discourse, attempting to reveal the vocabulary used in linguistic works, the ratio of parts of speech, sentence types, and their functions. This study seeks to uncover the characteristic features of scientific style and their role in the effectiveness of scientific communication. This study is based on the theoretical works of V. Hambardzumyan’s “Principles of Linguistics”, Ed. Mkrtchyan and L. Khachatryan’s “Course on the History of the Armenian Language”, and G. Jahukyan’s “Conversations about the Armenian Language”, which serve as the theoretical foundation and basis for conducting linguistic analyses. An important aspect of this study is that the analysis of the structure of scientific discourse holds significant value in contemporary linguistics, as it contributes to improving the clarity and comprehensibility of scientific communication.
MEDIA ARCHIVE: A NEW STEP TOWARDS PRESERVING NATIONAL DIGITAL HERITAGE
The National Library of Armenia (NLA) has launched Media Archive, a pioneering digital platform designed to collect and preserve online media content as part of Armenia’s national heritage. Developed by a young professional of Université Française en Arménie (UFAR), the system automates the collection of content from Armenian news websites, capturing articles, blogs, and other born-digital materials that are at risk of disappearing. The platform addresses a critical gap in Armenia’s legal deposit system, which currently applies mostly to printed materials. Using web scraping technologies, data is collected, cleaned, and archived with metadata, ensuring long-term access and legal authenticity. A user-friendly interface enables librarians to manage and search the archive effectively. Future enhancements include OCR integration for digitized historical materials and catalog system integration. Media Archive establishes the technological foundation for an electronic legal deposit system and reflects NLA’s commitment to safeguarding Armenia’s digital cultural memory for future generations and supporting scientific research and cultural preservation.
IMPROVING WEBSITE ARCHIVING PROCESSES FOR THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION OF DIGITAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
The web archiving process is of great importance because it enables individuals and organizations to have long-term access to information and to utilize it. The most important challenges of web archiving technology relate to regulatory and organizational issues, as well as aspects of ensuring authenticity and integrity, documentation, and quality control.
THE ROLE OF PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY PRESERVATION: BEST STORAGE PRACTICES AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF HUNGARY
Since the foundation of the National Széchényi Library (NSZL), it has served as a repository of knowledge and a custodian of Hungarian cultural heritage, making paper-based and electronic library documents publicly accessible. Therefore, it is library's duty to preserve its collection in the best way possible for future generations. The library has adopted a new sustainable practice to protect cultural heritage objects housed in the national library. In this paper the author will discuss their approach to preserving analogue documents.
CHRISTOFFEL VAN SICHEM’S ENGRAVER’S WORKS IN ARMENIAN ART
In the 16th centuries in the Armenian cultural life, an extremely important event took place, the start of Armenian printing. After the Gutenberg invention, a rapidly developing printingbusiness in Europe drew the Armenian cultural figures’ attention. Until 18th century the Armenian printed books were used by the works of European engraving masters, especially the German motifs by Christoffel van Sichem.
ON THE EVIDENCE OF EXCAVATIONS CONDUCTED IN ARTSAKH-KARABAKH FOUND IN THE “REPORTS OF THE IMPERIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMMISSION”
The article examines the evidence about Artsakh-Karabakh presented in the bulletins “Reports of the Imperial Archaeological Commission” (“report of the Imperial Archaeological Commission”), one of the many valuable sources stored in the National Library of Armenia. These newsletters were published between 1862 and 1918 once a year, summarizing events from 1859 to 1913-15. the data of the conducted archaeological excavations. 45 volumes of books have been published.
Significant progress was recorded in the establishment of the Eastern Armenian school in the years 1820-1860. The Nersisyan Spiritual School made an irreplaceable contribution to that work. This study is dedicated to the history of the creation and implementation of the charter of the Nersisyan Spiritual School. Nerses Ashtarakets‘I, thought of having such a statute that would always serve to meet the demands of the teaching staff and students. Although a charter he wrote at the time would best serve that purpose. The charter of the school was revised many times in the 1860s and was only approved in 1864.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA AS A GUARDIAN OF THE HISTORICAL MEMORY OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
The contribution of Armenia and the Armenian people to the Victory over Germany was significant. The patriotism and devotion of the people were demonstrated not only at the front, in heavy fighting, in the trenches, on the ground and in the air, but also in the rear. A strong and reliable rear largely ensured success at the front. The article presents some episodes of the activities of the A. Myasnikyan State Public Library (now the National Library of Armenia) during the war years. The library management focused not only on mass events, but also on operational work on the current acquisition of library collections. Thanks to the replenishment and preservation of library collections, valuable documents (books, photographs, posters, newspapers) became objects of research. A brief history of the formation of national military units based on library and archival documents stored in the NLA collections is also presented.
THE LIBRARY REPOSITORIES OF THE “KACHAR” SCIENTIFIC CENTER ON THE DEFENSE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH: DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND PROSPECTS
This study examines the preservation, dissemination, and research challenges associated with scientific and informational materials about the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh. Given the consequences of Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression and the hybrid warfare against Armenian statehood, safeguarding Artsakh-related archival materials is a strategic priority. The research explores international best practices in library management, digitization strategies, and information security. The study underscores the importance of mobilizing scientific and cultural resources, integrating library and archival institutions, and strengthening collaborations with global academic communities to ensure the accessibility and protection of Artsakh’s intellectual heritage.
MODERN REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LIBRARY FIELD
Professional development requires continuous effort. The combination of technical and soft skills, ongoing education, personalized approaches, global thinking, and the use of digital resources are all key areas essential for a modern librarian's success. Professional development in the library field demands the enhancement of diverse and ongoing skills, including digital librarianship, community engagement, and innovation. Librarians must be prepared for change and constantly update their skills to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of their library. The library sector is undergoing a transformation driven by technological advancements and the evolving demands of society. Today, librarians face new challenges, and their professional development must meet contemporary needs. However, this does not mean the librarian's role is diminishing or becoming secondary. It means that every profession, including librarianship, requires the continuous development of professional skills and the improvement of analytical and managerial capabilities. Implementing cost-effective marketing strategies in the library sector is crucial, as these can help optimize the library's operations, making it more competitive and sustainable.
NEW ELECTRONIC DICTIONARY (ARMENIAN – RUSSIAN – ENGLISH)։ NEEDS AND CHALLENGES
It is known that the creation of dictionaries requires years of diligent and consistent work, which in turn creates grounds for the creation of new words, new meaning usage of existing words that cannot be included in the given dictionary. Sometimes it is not possible to find foreign versions of a new Armenian word in any paper or online dictionary, because the words included in them are taken from dictionaries downloaded on the Internet, but published earlier. Because of this, in modern times, writing a dictionary only on paper, in the traditional version, may be out of date even at the time of printing. In the article, an attempt was made to show that the effective option is the creation of a new online dictionary, which will be regularly updated by the compilers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARMENIAN TRANSLATED LITERATURE։ METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT
The article focuses on foreign-language translated books published in Armenia in 1920-2020. The latter were combined and published as a three-volume bibliographic collection: volume A (1920-1970), volume B (1971-2010), volume C (2011-2020). The bibliographic collection was compiled mainly on basis of the book collection of the National Book Chamber of Armenia. After the merger the Book Chamber with the National Library of Armenia in 2017 the collection of library and other sources were used as well. In accordance with the standards, the bibliographic description compilation has been observed, and appropriate abbreviations and acronyms have been used and organized by UDC.
THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ARMENIAN PERIODICALS IN GREECE
We touched upon the Armenian-Greek relations, the Armenian community, and the Armenian press in Greece. Due to historical and political circumstances, Armenians also settled in Greece. They created their own community structures, published the Armenian press and so on. The Armenian press of Greece touches on various issues: community life, Homeland-Diaspora relations, highlights the problems of the Armenian community of Greece, etc. The Armenian press in Greece plays a major role in preserving the Armenian identity within the Greek-Armenian community, especially among the younger generation, and contributes to the preservation of the Armenian language, traditions and customs. Among the databases on the website of the National Library of Armenia, the Armenian Press database is also important, where the main bibliographic data of periodicals with serial numbers are entered. Digital copies of periodicals are posted under the “read online” link.
THE CHALLENGES OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARMENIA
The aim of the publication is to highlight the impact of information technology, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the achievements in many other fields on libraries in general and, in particular, on the activities of the National Library of Armenia in the face of contemporary challenges. Prioritising the preservation of printed heritage, the library embarked on the mission of digitising its collections and making them accessible to users through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems. To achieve the aim, the following objectives have been set: presenting the process of digital transformation of the library, discussing priorities for the digitisation of the national printed heritage, providing access to digital versions in the repositories, outlining the recognition process.
ARMENIAN PRINTING HISTORY PROMOTION WITHIN INTERNATIONAL PLATFORMS (AEPM, IZI TRAVEL)
The Printing Museum of the National Library of Armenia plays a special role from the point of view of bibliography and promotion of more than 510-year history of the Armenian book. The issue of promotion of Armenian cultural heritage in international platforms is among the strategic initiatives of the museums. One of the tasks of the Printing Museum is to raise awareness of Armenian books and printing through the international platforms worldwide, in particular Google Arts and Culture, the Association of European Museums of Printing (AEPM) and Izi Travel.
Association of European Museums of Printing (AEPM)
MARC 21 FORMAT: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF NON-BOOK PUBLICATIONS
Thus, the article presents a comprehensive overview of information on the non-book publications of the National Library of Armenia (NLA), including their processing, availability, and the types of non-book materials preserved, as well as electronic resources, both computer and non-computer files. The most important and mandatory fields for non-book publications in the MARC format are also presented. In conclusion, it can be observed that the entry of non-book publications in electronic format presents challenges for a number of libraries. However, article demonstrates the capabilities of the MARC format for non-book publications, detailing the relevant fields and record types.
The article examines the Armenian press published by the Armenian diaspora in Iran. Due to various historical factors, Armenians have settled in different countries worldwide, forming diaspora communities. The Armenian community in Iran constitutes a significant part of this diaspora and is recognized as an important center for Armenian printing outside the homeland. According to relevant encyclopedic sources, over eighty Armenian periodicals are currently published in Iran. The Armenian press in Iran is regarded as an integral component of the printed heritage of the Armenian diaspora.
Iranian-Armenian printing and periodicals
The informational role of museums in the development of education and social communications is of great significance. Based on the results of scientific research, as well as my own studies, I have been able to provide an overview of the museums of Artsakh. However, this information, while systematic, remains incomplete. A comprehensive account is unattainable, as cultural genocide and acts of vandalism were committed in Artsakh on three occasions between the 1990s and 2023, the evidence of which continues to be examined.
To summarize, it is important to note that professional development is a continuous process where innovations and technologies play a crucial role. The effectiveness and accessibility of library operations must align with ever-evolving educational needs. While digitalization, new technologies, and smart robots are vital, we cannot overlook the role of libraries in shaping a healthy society by serving as centers for the development of educational, cultural, and social skills. Libraries must integrate teaching, collaboration, social development programmes, and activities that encourage individualized approaches. To ensure the efficient functioning of libraries, librarians should engage in training courses, familiarize themselves with various technological programmes, develop management methods, acquire new skills, and work to improve library services.
HISTORICAL AND LINGUISTIC EVALUATION OF THE SYRIAN-ARMENIAN ANNUAL “GEGHARD”
The article refers specifically to the Syrian-Armenian “Geghard” yearbook (1975-2000), which was published by the initiative of the Bibliographic Commission of the Armenian General Benevolent Union in Aleppo during the last quarter of the 20th century. It highlights the significant historical and linguistic heritage found within its pages. The publication of “Geghard” acted as a spark that awakened the Armenian mind from a deep stupor and directed it toward the world of knowledge.
THE PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL HERITAGE: IRANIAN-ARMENIAN PRINTING AND CONTINUING RESOURCES
The study of the Iranian-Armenian printing and periodicals is important for the completion of Armenian studies and the total unfolding of Armenians’ potential. Throughout many centuries living outside their homeland, Iranian Armenians were the bearers and enrichers of the Armenian language, culture and rich traditions. Based on valuable sources, periodical coverage and public research, the study presents the birth and emergence of the Iranian-Armenian press in an unbiased, comprehensive and inclusive manner, and portrays the role and significance of the Iranian-Armenian periodicals in cultural heritage promotion. This article covers the role of the Iranian-Armenian printing and periodicals from 1638 to the present.
PRESERVING HERITAGE: EXPLORING ARMENIAN LANGUAGE, HISTORY, AND CULTURE THROUGH RARE BOOKS AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
The article discusses the Armenian collections of the Indiana University Libraries, highlighting the importance of these materials in terms of preserving Armenian cultural and historical heritage.
THE ARMENIAN FOUR GOSPELS OF 966 - ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE FOREIGN LANGUAGE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ST. ST CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY
The article presents a brief description of the oldest dated book in the manuscript collection of the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria — an Armenian Four Gospels manuscript from the year 966. The manuscript represents a valuable heritage for both Bulgarian and Armenian cultural history.
The oath, like other genres of oath-related folklore (curse, blessing, wishing), has been used for magical purposes since ancient times. We distinguish between two main groups of oaths: oath with a curse and oath with a reference to testimony. The main thematic groups of oaths with curses reflect various types of punishment, ranging from dying in the most brutal ways, suffering from various physical and mental illnesses, to social and religious-moral consequences. In the main categories of oaths with a reference to testimony beliefs and veneration of the Christian religion, God, and saints, as well as the material objects and items related to the church, are reflected on one hand, and ancient folk beliefs and mythical concepts emerge on the other, which, naturally, arise from the veneration of the particular phenomenon or object in question.
GEGHAM TER-KARAPETYAN’S RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC HERITAGE OF MUSH AND NEIGHBOURING HISTORICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC REGIONS
The almost unexplored legacy of Gegham Ter-Karapetyan is important for completing the overview of the world of Taron and is absolutely worthy of scientific examination, since the collector was the bearer and connoisseur of that material. The handwritten legacy of Msho Gegham, the self-made dialect dictionary stored in his fund, indicate a perfect knowledge of the Mush dialect, and the recorded ethnographic and folklore material, comments and notes are extremely important for modern scientists and ethnographers. Meanwhile, the name of Gegham Ter-Karapetyan is not even mentioned alongside other Armenian folklorists, although he was a student of G. Srvandztyants and a worthy follower of his teacher.
MUSEUM MARKETING AS A MEANS OF INCREASING THE SERVICE ATTRACTIVENESS AND RESOURCE PROVISION
The concept of museum marketing encompasses a range of practices and decisions aimed at enhancing the appeal of the museum’s services, and ensuring a significant number of visitors. To achieve this effectively, museums must adopt the visitor’s perspective, analyze their needs, and tailor services accordingly. To boost service appeal, museums must respond promptly and accurately to visitors’ inquiries. Consistency in implementing marketing policies is crucial, and their effectiveness should be assessed through both quantitative and qualitative measures.
SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES OF LIBRARY MANAGEMENT
The object of socio-psychological environment management is a working team. The issues of psychological bases of team management of libraries not well-explored in professional literature in Armenia in the 21st century. By means of experimental methods, the article presents and generalises the peculiarities of the socio-psychological environment of the library. It comprehensively examines the factors influencing the environment and highlights the importance of its formation and management. The goal is to create a comfortable and effective working environment.
CHALLENGES OF ONLINE PUBLISHING. DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS
In this paper we will discuss these photographs from the nineteenth century, and more specifically the work of processing of photographs and photo albums, and the difficulties of the online publishing processing. The online publishing service for the collection was launched in 2020 and is called Fotótér (Photo Space).