July 4 marked the founding day of the National Library of Armenia. The event was attended by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Social Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Yuri Suvaryan, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, scientists, artists, and friends of the library. Anna Chulyan made a welcoming speech. “Proud of the past, we look to the future with inspiration. The role of libraries has changed in the digital age, and the National Library has embraced this transformation with vigor and innovation. The current mission of the library is to become a center of research and education, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange both nationally and internationally.”

Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan congratulated the library on its 105th anniversary and expressed the following words of gratitude: “Having gone a long way and living in different periods, the National Library of Armenia was able to maintain its role and function. Today there are many rumors that the development of technology is making books and reading a thing of the past. But statistics show that the reality is different. Along with the development of technology, the love of reading grows and interest in books intensifies. One of the most beloved and popular holidays of the young independent Republic of Armenia is Book Giving Day. It has become a real folk tradition, which once again demonstrates how important the book is in our lives and what potential we still have to unlock in it. The digital world is changing our approaches, but it is more than clear that books will remain inseparable companions of our lives and will become even more important. After all, AI also uses the library and various repositories to find answers to its questions.”  

The minister noted that the main responsibility and obligation of the state will be to continue the development of the library, respond to challenges, find the right way to position the library in the digital era, and be purposefully present in public life. “I am confident that with responsive and dedicated employees, we will find a new way to develop the library. Starting from the most basic conditions, our work is a daily task that must be accomplished through collective efforts,” the minister concluded. For years of impeccable work, the minister awarded gold medals to four library employees — Alisa Adamyan, Kristina Matevosyan, Balasan Harutyunyan and Armine Mirzakhanyan.

As part of the event, the opening of the history hall of the National Library took place, where the library’s founding documents, letters, a grandiose model of Tamanyan’s building, archive photographs, and pieces of furniture by Hovhannes Naghashyan were presented. The gala evening events were held with the support of the Komitas Conservatory and the Yerevan Brandy Factory.