The 52nd Library Week is being celebrated through various activities taking place both in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus between 28 March and 3 April. Every year, library week celebrations begin on the last Monday of March, a tradition which started in 1964 in Turkey and in 1996 in the TRNC. The aim of this week is to underline the importance of books, reading and libraries in our society.
Director of EMU Özay Oral Library Osman Soykan noted that we are living in an age where knowledge is an indispensable value. Societies which see science and knowledge as a guide are continually developing in the fields of science and technology. This development undeniably has a positive effect on both the intellectual level and the economic relief of societies.
Soykan described modern libraries as places that use internet technology not only to collect and store information but also as portals that allow researchers find new information sources. He stated that “University libraries are more about the organization of information and allowing users to reach information, than being places where information is physically stored. For this reason cooperation between libraries has become very important. The new library model allows academicians and researchers to obtain information without making location a factor. The role of the 21st Century university library is to allow academicians, researchers and students to reach information in all formats without creating any barriers.”
Osman Soykan went on to state that the 52nd Library Week is a significant event for EMU Özay Oral Library as it is important for all libraries. Our library is a library with one of the biggest academic collections on the island. It is also a library that has gained acceptance in international consortiums.
Osman Soykan put forth that “The sole purpose of our library is allowing our university to reach its academic goals. It contains roughly 160.000 books, 10.000 electronic magazine subscriptions and 200,000 electronic books. With its effective information services and rich collection, our library is an indispensable tool of the universities modern, innovative and student-centred education philosophy.“
At the end of his remarks, Soykan wished all librarians and library users a happy Library Week, and the community days filled with books.
