IFLA Belgrade 2019

1. Together We are Stronger
and More Creative:
Youth Associations in Russian
Libraries: Aims, Values and
Results
Marina Zakharenko,
Deputy Director
Russian State Library for Young Adults,
Head of the Youth Section
of the Russian Library Association
PhD (Candidate of Science) in pedagogics

2. They were pioneers…
Chronicle of youth library associations’ development
 2001 – Youth Creative Council of Izhevsk municipal libraries
 2002 – Youth Council of Omsk municipal libraries and Creative Youth Group of
Kemerovo Regional Youth Library

3. Today on the “library map” of Russia
103 public professional associations – different by form, territorial coverage,
the scope of activities, status (councils/associations/groups of young librarians)
Three groups have a legal status of public associations: Novosibirsk Regional
Public Organization Guild of Young Librarians at the Novosibirsk Regional
Library for Young Adults; Omsk City Youth Organization Youth Council (Omsk
municipal libraries) and Council of Young Librarians at the Krasnoyarsk Regional
Library for Young Adults

4. Initiators, former leaders and the present head of the
Omsk Youth Library Council

5. Why do we need a public youth association?
• It fosters young librarians’ social activity, professional development and creativity;
• It gives young librarians an opportunity to achieve a personal self-realization which is
so important for young people;
• It lets young people perform independence and commitment;
• It develops leadership;
• Together young professionals can do more things and better (two heads are better
than one);
• Members of youth councils communicating with peers from other councils expand
personal contacts and partnership of their libraries;
• Friendly environment and a spirit of partnership help young staff members to adapt in
professional community;
• Through youth councils professionals can receive grants and financial support for
library events

6. What do young librarians think about it?
“To me community service is a pleasure. Life becomes full of new interesting things”
“This is an excellent opportunity to communicate with colleagues and peers; in the future
this communication can become a cooperation, professional collaboration, joint consulting
and even friendship. The last one is the most amazing thing especially for young people”
“New meetings and new contacts. This is an excellent way to establish connections,
besides, in this kind of communication usually there are no conflicts, just a peaceful and
nice attitude toward life… You can make new friends. Moreover, I learnt how to work as a
team member”
“The community service helps you to sharpen your professional skills”

7. Russian Library Association
Youth Section
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lib.youngadults/
Overall number of professional
events organized by young librarians
(forums, conventions, assemblies,
schools, gatherings, camps,
conferences, contests etc.):
2016 – 58
2017 – 67
2018 – 82

8. I Forum of Young Librarians of Russia (Moscow, 2006)
II Forum “Young Librarians for Young Librarians: Mutual Usefulness” (Omsk, 2007)
III Forum “Innovative Potential of the Country is to Be Developed by Young People”
(Saratov, 2009)
IV Forum “Intellectual Potential of the Country is to Be Developed by Young People”
(Cheboksary, 2011)
V Forum “Future in the Present” (Ryazan, 2013)
VI Forum “Library without Borders: Development and Realization of Young People’s
Potential in the Interest of Russia” (Irkutsk, 2014)
VII Forum “Young Librarian as a Professional Reader” (Ekaterinburg, 2016)
VIII Forum ”Future for Libraries: Search for an Effective Model” (Belgorod, 2018)
Forums of Young Librarians of Russia

9. Russian Convention for Young Librarians

10. Consolidated electronic
Register for Youth Library Organizations

11. Becoming a Professional ceremony (since 2012)
Kaliningrad Krasnoyarsk Vladimir

12. Daria Rytseva (Ufa)
2016
Anna Castilio Mekhia
(Izhevsk)
2017
Elena Denezhkina
(Lipetsk)
2018
Librarian of the Year

13. Thank you!
Questions?