Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Özay Oral Library Director Osman Soykan was elected as the President of the Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association during its General Assembly. The association that was established in 1982 has been contributing to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) library, archive and data center development since its conception.
The association’s mission is to promote libraries and librarianship in the TRNC, to increase the use of libraries and to increase reading whilst being the voice of its members. The association also continues to contribute to national art, culture education and research. As of February 2018, the new governing body and labor division of the Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association have been specified as follows:
- President: Osman Soykan – EMU Özay Oral Library
- Vice President: Ayşe Oktan – Atatürk Teacher Training Academy Library
- Secretary: Serap Sürahi – TRNC Department of Culture
- Accountant: Elif Bilokçuoğlu – Morphou Public Library
- Active Member: Mavişe Pınar Uysal – TRNC National Library
We will Prioritize Occupational Organization
New Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association President Osman Soykan stated “The primary aim of our professional association can be summarized as working to promote libraries and librarianship with the aim of increasing the love towards reading and the habit of going to libraries. In addition to this we undoubtedly aim to support the protection and expansion of the rights of our members. Our new governing body will carry out work to position our association as an important authority in the field of librarianship and information centers. We will prioritize occupational organization, striving for our professional association to function in an organized, systematic and active manner all over the country.
“There should be solidarity between libraries”
Pointing out that the increase of universities in the TRNC has led to the increase in university libraries new Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association President Osman Soykan continued as follows: “With the increase in the number of university libraries the potential for collaboration between libraries increases. Our association expects solidarity and coordination between libraries. We will try to encourage the sharing of sources, joint events, document proofing and book loans amongst different libraries. I would like to express my gratitude to the previous governing body of our association for their devoted and successful work whilst wishing the new governing body the best of luck throughout our tenure.”
