Library

Research Library of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University

One of the paradoxes of modern civilization is the fact that in the era of informatization and computerization the significance of the written legacy as a source of knowledge and culture remains important. In the XX century there was an opinion that books’ significance was decreasing and that it would be replaced by disks. However, in spite of idle opinions the importance of books for human beings remained the same.

Today as centuries ago book is one of the main phenomena of human civilization and constitutes a depository of human learning, endless chronicle of proceedings, success and failures of human intellect. And the Library is a part of the national culture that is entrusted with great function of people’s spiritual renewal, the most valuable asset of each state, treasury of human knowledge, where both professors and students get knowledge. Thus in the XXI and following centuries the importance of books and libraries will remain as high as the main depositories of written culture of human beings. That is why meaning of the library is so important for the development of science and higher education. The existence of modern University is impossible without library and it can be considered as a real heart of education and science when it is realized not only as a leading research, but also as a library centre as well. The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University is the very institution that corresponds to this description and pays special attention to the development of the University library.

The ENU library has been functioning since 1962. During this period it gradually turned from small-scale library of provincial institution of higher education into the huge centre of scientific and academic books. New stage of the library started in 2001, when under the initiative of the RK Government and I. Tasmagambetov Research Centre “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” was created on the basis of the research library of the University (Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan # 924 of 6 July 2001).

With the establishment of the Centre the project “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” was set to function that made the University library be on the National level.

Main aims of the Centre creation were:

• Preservation of the written spiritual and historical heritage;
• Development and extension of the research base of the country and University.

Basic tendencies of the development:

• Accelerated development of the information and bibliographic technologies;
• Preservation of the traditional written sources for future generation.

The ENU Library today – it is the first-rate University book depository and first of all the universal information resource of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which comprises more than 1.4 million copies of the documents on all spheres of science.

In the foundation of the Research Centre “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” includes not only books, but also CD-ROMs, electronic books, audio- and video-documents, notes, abstracts of theses, theses, defended at the ENU, periodicals (the library subscribes to 525 titles of journals and newspapers, including in Kazakh language – 197).

Rarefunds take a particular place in the depositaries of the Library, which consist of about 30 thousand documents: manuscripts, first printed editions, memorial and collection libraries of figures of culture and science of Kazakhstan, as well as volumes published abroad and presented to our University by President of the RK Nursultan Nazarbayev, Pope Joann Paul II, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Mr. D. Gensher, Alexander Library, People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, poet Olzhas Suleimenov and other figures of culture and science of Kazakhstan and the world. In the fund of rare books and manuscripts there are rarities such as:

• The original of A.I. Levshin’s manuscripts of 1828 “Description of Kirghiz and Cossack or Kirghiz and Kaissak Hordes and Steppes” (in Polish);
• Copies of the manuscripts of the research treatises of Al-Farabi from the libraries of Islam Republic of Iran and illustrated volumes of Firdousi and Hafiz in the Persian language (present of rector, professor M. Zholdasbekov);
• Collection of the handwritten and printed “Koran”;
• Manuscripts of the works of Abay and Shakarim Kudaiberdiyev, rewritten by Sherizdan Marsekov in 1932 (from the collection of prominent scientist Balkhash Bapin);
• Collection of the manuscripts of one of the leading Kazakh writers of the XX century Sapargali Begalin (1895-1983);
• Handwritten book “Wise Man’s Words” of the Chinese philosophers Chen Guo and Zhou Ci, edition of the XII century (presented to the library by prominent poet O. Suleimenov);
• Collection of books in Arabic, Persian, Tatar and Chagatay languages of the end of XIX and beginning of XX centuries (present of Seit Kenzhakhmetov and Sara Kolbaykyzy);
• Collection of the European books of XVIII and beginning of XIX centuries (beginning from 1743) in French language: works of Walter, Cervantes, Racine, Kornel, La Rochefoucauld, Russo, Didro, Rabelais, La Fontaine;
• Fictions and scientific literature of Russia of XIX century;
• 82-volumed Encyclopaedia of Brokgauz and Efron (1890-1902);
• 100 books of “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” issued to the 10th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan and presented to the library during the presentation.

The books from Baba-ata madrasah, which was situated at the beginning of the century not far from historical town Otyrar, bear significance role in “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy”. In 1928-1930 these books and manuscripts were buried in the earth and were found several years ago while flood of the river. Books, saved by a miracle, remind us about the past and reassure the old truth – manuscripts do not burn. Materials on the ancient Turkic script take a special place in the fund of the Research Centre “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy”. In particular there are following books in the Rare Books Department:

• “Atlas of the Ancient Mongolia”, published by V.V. Radlov in St.-Petersburg in 1892 (present of Prime-Minister I. Tasmagambetov);
• 5-volumed collection of the works of prominent Danish linguist V. Thomsen (including research of 1894 “Deciphering of Orkhon Inscription”), who for the first time revealed the mystery of inscription written in the ancient Turkic language in the end of XIX century;
• Runic Atlases of Geikel and Radlov (presents of Royal Library and Minister of Education of Denmark M. Vestager). At the RC “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” there is a memorial fund named after H.-D. Genscher, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FRG in the late 80s. This fund, numbering more than 2.4 thousand units of the most valuable literature in German language, which were presented to the University library in 1989. H.-D. Genscher fund contains considerable encyclopaedic and scientific literature on humanities, Literature, Arts, History, Regional Studies and by its nature is a unique collection of its type not only in Kazakhstan, but also in the CIS.

In the course of the visit paid to the University on 23 September 2001 Pope Joann Paul II presented “New Catholic Encyclopeadia” in 20 volumes that are kept in the “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” fund as well. There are 200 granted books with the authors’ autographs in the fund as well.

The Activity Directions of the RC “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy”:

Research and Survey Work:

During this period (from 2001 to 2008) the following measure have been taken in order to ensure research and survey work, as well as to enlarge the book fund with rare editions: around 10.0 thousand rare books and manuscripts, editions in Arabic language, which contain data about Kazakh’s history (50 volumes), were obtained, total scientific description of the rare books and manuscripts in Arabic and Persian languages (357 units) has been made.

Fundamental research work on the Ancient Turkic Written Inscription and Eastern Manuscripts as a Spiritual Basis of Kazakhstani Independence has been conducted. The ancient Chinese text of the Kultegin stele has been deciphered and translated into Kazakh and Russian languages. Substantiation and comparison of historical events stated in the inscription are in the process.

Research and Cultural Work:

Annually the library serves about 11 thousand readers, 8.8 thousand of whom are students. There are around 500 thousand visitors per a year; book lending is 1.5 million copies.

The important research direction of the RC “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” is forming nominal memorial book funds of prominent figures of Literature, the Arts, science and education of Kazakhstan. One of the first such funds is a personal library and archives of poet S. Begalin, presented to the Centre by his son, as well as memorial libraries and exhibits of A. Margulan, S. Kirabayev and A. Beissenova, S. Begalin, R. Syzdykova, M. Karatayev, K. Akishev, T. Kakishev, O. Nurmaganbetov, T. Zhurtbay and M. Otelbayev. On the base of Centre’s fund there were organized Museum of Script and L.N. Gumilyov Museum.

Research and Academic Work:

The main function of the Centre is to provide students and academic staff with textbooks and scientific editions, as well as satisfaction of their information inquiries. Annually the fund increases by 10 thousand units, including documents in electronic media. The library jointly with the University Faculties conducts work on search for new sources of acquisition.

Perspectives of the International Cooperation

In the international sense the objectives of the RC “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” are:

• Establishment and development of the international relations in the Eurasian research-academic and librarian space with the leading libraries and depositaries;
• Return of the written sources on History of Kazakhstan to our country;
• Stocking of the library funds via the international book exchange;
• Entering the international partitioned organizations;
• Propaganda of cultural written heritage of Kazakhstan in the international arena.

Projects

At present in the frames of the programme “National idea as a basis of the development of Kazakhstan” the RC “Otyrar Kitapkhanasy” works on the realization of the Project “the Ancient Turkic and Kazakh Historical and Literary Written Sources as a Basis of Forming the National Idea of Kazakhstani Independence”. Source base of the electronic catalogue of Turkic script memorials, Eastern and Kazakh manuscripts have been also created. The following books have been published: S. Kenzhakhmetuly “Customs and Culture of Kazakh People”; T. Zhurtbay “Alash akikattary”; B. Bafin “Tarikhi shezhire”; N. Akhmetbekov “Shygarmalary”; 2 volumes of S. Begalin: 1 v. poetry and 2 v. Essays and Stories; K. Mukhamedkhanov “Kop tomdyk shygarmalar”. Publications in progress: “Ancient Chinese Texts in the Ancient Turkic Funeral Tombstones”, “Ancient Turkic Literature and Culture of the Epoch of Khunns and Tukic People in the Ancient Chinese Sources”, “Idea of “Eternal Ale” as a spiritual base of the National Idea of Kazakhstani Independence”, “National Liberation Movements of Eastern Turkestani Kazakhs”, T. Zhurtbay “Uranym – Alash!”.

Our Rates

For 01.01.2009:

The fund comprises – 1.4 million units;

including in Kazakh language - 61299 units;

Readers - 11thousand;

including students – 8.9 thousand;

Visits - 500 thousand;

Lent books - 1.5 million units.