Dear All,

It is through our joint efforts that we have succeeded in enhancing the visibility, voice and reputation of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania during this anniversary year. We have proved that we possess immense potential for change and growth. We have accomplished a great deal so far and achieved positive changes.

“I do not see any programme or strategy for protecting our spiritual oceans with its fauna and all the life in them,” said Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, Chairman of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas and former factual Head of State, at the international conference “The National Library’s Role in Cultural Diplomacy”. He suggested holding events on this broad and relevant topic at least once a month, if not every week.

A few dozens of new additions in English and Russian languages have arrived on the shelves of the Leisure Books To Borrow collection at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. Sapiens and Homo Deus by Y. N. Harari and Vegetarian by H. Kang are among the most talked-about books so far this year. Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey is a début collection of poetry by an Indian-born Canadian poet. This internationally acclaimed and New York Times best-selling book has stirred up a storm in social media and has been translated into 35 languages including Lithuanian. Legal thrillers by J. Nesbo and J. Grisham are perfect for those who like unexpected plot twists, while classic literature lovers will enjoy the works by R. Bradbury, V. Woolf, G. Orwell, M. Attwood, E. M. Remarque, H. Balzac, or V. Nabokov.

The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania hosted a celebration of the 400-year anniversary of Grammar of the Slavic Language (Букварь языка славенска). According to the organiser of the event, the Belarusian embassy in Lithuania, 2018 marked an important event in the history of the work – the completion of its publication in facsimile as part of an international research and publication project.

While implementing one of its most important strategical objectives of being a reliable partner in developing access to knowledge and information, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania has signed an agreement with OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) for becoming a participant of the VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) system. The main goal of the VIAF system is to link authority records from national bibliographic agencies from across the globe into a shared public-access system for searching nationally or regionally approved forms of authority records that meet the needs of all global users for using records in desired language variations, character set, and spelling. VIAF participants include national libraries and other organizations in 38 countries responsible for the creation of national authority records since 1998.

Dear visitors, on the 23rd of November the National Library is closing at 3 p.m.

The exhibition of historical records “We want to be free, we will be free!” is dedicated to the formation of the State of Latvia. In exhibition, which is held at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, you can also explore Latvia’s neighbor countries Lithuania and Estonia, Poland and Finland, which were founded or reinstated after World War I and also celebrate their centenaries in 2017–2018.

We invite you to visit the National Library Judaica Research Centre's exhibition “Reflections in a Shattered Mirror” dedicated to the Centenary of the Restored State of Lithuania.

On 2 November, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden Maria Christina Lundqvist paid a visit to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. The guest was intrigued by the library’s Judaica collection as well as Vilna Collections Project implemented in cooperation with YIVO Institute in New York, both of which have received substantial coverage in the Lithuania and foreign media. The Ambassador visited the Reading Room and YIVO space at the Judaica Research Centre where she had the opportunity to explore the centre’s latest stand exhibition titled “Reflections in a Shattered Mirror”.

On 25–26 of October Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, participated in the international conference entitled “Imagine a National Library” held at the National Library of Estonia. The event was dedicated to the 100th year anniversary of the main library of Estonia. The following were the main topics discussed at the conference: the challenges of the digital age, libraries’ engagement with society, social role of libraries, the library as a physical and virtual space, current functions and future prospects of national libraries, national libraries and cultural heritage.

The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania invites you to watch the visual essay by Swedish artist Ingela Johansson on Gotland Communiqué – a document, signed by Lithuanians from all over the world in Katthammarsvik, island of Gotland, in August 1989, on seeking their united, vital goal − Independence of Lithuania.

On 16 October, Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania was visited by Swiss gallery owner and art collector Arminio Sciolli. The guest presented the library with the latest (3rd) edition of the photography catalogue entitled “10 Days in Locarno”. This catalogue provides a comprehensive overview of the cultural event programme which was organized during the international film festival held at the start of August in Locarno, Switzerland, and was dedicated to the centenary of the restoration of Lithuania’s state. This cultural programme included an exhibition compiled by the National Library featuring books on the history, language, literature and art of our country as well as on Lithuania’s cultural and historical links to Switzerland and the canton of Ticino, the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland.

Andrejus Vasilenko is best known for his urban exploration project entitled “This is Vilnius”. The project started back in 2014 as the author’s personal blog on Facebook which has already racked up nearly 7,000 followers. The project aims to capture the city of Vilnius, to tell alternative stories of the city, and to raise public awareness of the fine-art/investigative/documentary genre of photography. The visitors who flocked to see Andrejus Vasilenko’s personal exhibition hosted at the National Library (which was the first presentation of the project in the city of Vilnius) thanked the photographer “for the opportunity to discover a different Vilnius”.

On 4–5 October, an international symposium of the association Bibliotheca Baltica entitled “Sharing the Sources: Innovative Technologies for Libraries, Archives and Research Communities” was hosted in Rostock, Germany, in which the representatives of the memory preservation institutions, together with information technology experts, had the opportunity to discuss the latest theoretical methods for the digitization of cultural heritage and the most innovative lending methods.

The project “This is Vilnius” started back in 2014 as the author’s personal blog on Facebook, and today it has nearly 7,000 followers. The project aims to capture the city of Vilnius, to tell alternative stories of the city, and to raise public awareness of the fine-art/investigative/documentary genre of photography. The personal exhibition by photographer Andrejus Vasilenko displayed at the National Library is the first presentation of the project in the city of Vilnius.

On 27–28 September, the National Library of Azerbaijan hosted an international conference “Innovations in National Libraries as the Basis of Changes and the Direction of Development” dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the library. During its plenary session, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas, Director General of Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, gave a presentation entitled “National Library of Lithuania – Modern State Memory Institution”. The presentation provided an overview of the National Library’s strategy to be achieved by 2020, its activities and projects under implementation. The greatest emphasis was placed on the innovativeness of the projects implemented by the National Library. The conference focused on the experiences of the national libraries of Lithuania, Qatar and Turkey.

On 10–14 September, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania hosted a meeting with a delegation from the National Library of the Republic of Moldova. The delegation members included specialists of different fields.  This visit is part of the project “Institution: National Library – Potential and Opportunities”.  The project aims to strengthen cooperation with the National Library of Moldova, to share experiences of implementing library activities and creating library services at the Lithuanian National Library by promoting knowledge society.

The representatives of diplomatic missions in Lithuania gathered for an event at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania on Wednesday evening. Upon the invitation of the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Lithuania Dr. Vassiliki Dicopoulou, the library hosted the opening of the photography exhibition entitled “Records in Memory: Recalling Moments of the Propylaea Restoration” currently on display at the National Library and a lecture titled “The Acropolis of Athens. The Process of the Monuments’ Protection” by Vasiliki Eleftheriou, Architect, Engineer, and Director of the Acropolis Restoration Service, Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports.

Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, paid a visit to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. 

An important year approaches for the National Library’s community: the library will soon mark its 100th year anniversary.  In preparation to commemorate its centenary in 2019, today the library publicly introduced its new representation video.  The video was screened today to the entire library community during the lunch break.