Book World

From an early age, books surround us: first, children's books with little text and many large pictures, then, proportionally to age, increasingly serious ones where content prevails over illustration. A person grows physically and spiritually, moving from visual superficial perception to a deeper one, and begins to fully comprehend the power of the word. Special attention was paid to the Book in the recently concluded year 2012.

Upon entering the central library, many have surely noticed the doors with the inscription "Department of Library Marketing." This is where I am heading – to the head, Anna Dyatko. This office monitors and analyses reader needs, generates ideas for new services, knows how each individual library (there are 24 in total) functions and what it is involved in, and in general, is competent in the matters that interest me.

How many literature items are there in the district, what is the scale? The figure is impressive – 223,802 items are held in the library network's collection. Judging by the book circulation last year, the population prefers magazines. They were borrowed 209,651 times. Fewer books were issued – 128,371 copies, however, reading them, compared to glossy magazines, is a more lengthy process requiring reflection and concentration. And what about the residents of remote villages with small populations? These people have also been catered for: since November 2010, a bookmobile has been operating along eight routes. The vehicle with books visits 42 villages for 323 regular readers.

The central library has long ceased to be just a point for issuing literature. Based on its resources, 49 types of paid services are provided to the population, and a public legal information centre operates. Any citizen can come and learn about the latest changes in legislation, read necessary legal documents. The "Etalon" database is available. With its help, it is easy to find and read decisions of local self-government bodies, international treaties, and court practice. It is updated daily.

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In the Year of the Book, the central library invited readers to the literary and poetry evening "Cherish Your Native Language" with the folk literary and music club "Vytok". Visitors listened to poems by local authors and participated in discussions about their native language. On Independence Day, a "Literary Courtyard" was set up in the city park, where townspeople could explore new Belarusian literature and listen to performances by renowned and young poets from the Lepel region. Various quizzes and literary evenings were held in the libraries to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of Yakub Kolas and Yanka Kupala, as well as the centenary of the birth of Maksim Tank. Throughout the year, readers also met with members of the Writers' Union.

The library collections received 15,889 copies of literature. Enterprises also made their contributions. The Repair and Mechanical Plant donated eleven books to a total value of 503,422 rubles, including "Agroecology," "History of France," and "Enterprise Economics." The Bakery Plant donated 21 publications for children to the value of 489,780 rubles. CJSC "Vitebskagrop produkt" purchased fifteen diverse books, spending 796,708 rubles. KUPTP "Priulye" bought "Snowy Borscht" and "Fir Trees and Sticks," fifteen copies of each.

Evgenia LYAKH.