3 January, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The declaration of 2012 as the Year of the Book will remind everyone of the role of printed publications in the life of every person. This opinion was expressed to a BELTA correspondent by Alexander Semkin, Director of the V.I. Lenin Vitebsk Regional Library. "A book occupies a certain place in everyone's life: in infancy, parents read to us, later children themselves study and read children's books with pleasure. Many remember and carefully keep their first primer, and build their own home libraries in adulthood. Thus, the book is an integral part of our culture," emphasized Alexander Semkin, noting that even the development of television, the Internet, and electronic technology, which have made literature more accessible, has not been able to displace printed publications. Publishing activities are now actively developing, and new technologies are emerging that make books more attractive to readers. According to Alexander Semkin, a respectful attitude towards books as a significant material value has been formed in our society. This is evidenced by the constant replenishment of library collections through publications donated by citizens. "For example, in 2010, residents of the region donated over 1.5 thousand books to our library free of charge, and in 2011, over 1.3 thousand," stated the interviewee, expressing confidence that all projects dedicated to the Year of the Book will strengthen the authority of printed literature. The collection of the Vitebsk Regional Library currently comprises 710 thousand books and periodicals. To replenish it, over 7 thousand books are purchased annually, excluding subscriptions to an extensive list of periodicals. Approximately 900 readers use the library's services daily, including the electronic reading room. -0-

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