The 2nd International Paskievich Readings were held in the Homiel Regional Universal Library on September 23-24, in which the staff of the National Library of Belarus took an active part.
The research and practice conference was organized by the V. I. Lenin Homiel Regional Universal Library and was supported by the Main Department for Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Homiel Regional Executive Committee and the Homiel City Branch of the Belarusian Library Association.
The conference was arranged in the form of plenary and panel sessions. The reports presented focused on the life and work of the Paskievich princes, the last owners of the Homiel estate – historical events and personalities of the Paskievich era; the heritage of the family and their contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of Homiel; book culture as an important part of the historical and cultural heritage; activities of cultural institutions in the study and popularisation of book heritage. Based on the results of the conference, a digest of the reading materials was prepared and published.
The first report at the plenary session "The Book Heritage of the Homiel Region" by Ms Maryna Rafiejieva, Deputy Director of the National Scientific and Technical Library was dedicated to the unique private book collection of the Paskievich princes. The total number of the extant editions from this collection is 6,253 items. The Paskievich collection is united by a single style of design (the bindings were made to the order of the owners, most often in the Homiel workshop of Libman) and ex-libris. The report presented a detailed bibliometric analysis of the collection and listed measures for its preservation.
Part of the manuscripts from the Paskievich book collection is stored in the National Library of Belarus. At the plenary session, Mr Alies Susha, Deputy Director General – Director of Research and Publishing Activities of the National Library, made a report in which he presented the characteristics of handwritten books, as well as work on their preservation, study and popularization.
The section "Memorial activities of cultural institutions" brought together employees of libraries and museums, who study handwritten and printed book monuments, are engaged in the preservation and promotion of book culture. Representatives of the National Library of Belarus took an active part in the work of the section.
Ms Halina Kirejieva, Chief Bibliographer of the Bibliology Research Department, in the report "Manuscripts of Old Believers in the National Library of Belarus Collection" gave a general description of the collection, which has been formed from the day of the foundation of the Library and currently has more than 240 storage units.
Ms Tatsiana Zakharava, Head of the Museum Activities Sector of the Bibliology Research Department, made a report "Books with Owners' Marks – significant exhibits of anniversary exhibitions", in which, using the example of the Book Museum anniversary exhibitions, she studied exhibit techniques for displaying book memorabilia with ex-libris and autographs.
Ms Tatsiana Sapeha, Head of the Scientific and Project Work Section, presented the publication "On a Visit to Books", dedicated to the book heritage and aimed, among other things, at specialists of libraries and museums of the country as a basis for popularizing the history of book culture among children and youth. The book presents an entertaining history of books for children with intellectual and creative tasks and is an important project oriented towards promoting the values of family reading and library-based reading. The speaker also shared the method of using the materials of the book, developed during the classes in the framework of the project "On a Visit to Books".
Ms Natalja Karalieva, Leading Artist of the Printing Preparation Section of the Publishing Department, the designer of the publication "On a Visit to Books", noted the importance of the cognitive and aesthetic unity in the design of children's books. Illustrations and design comment and supplement the text, stimulate the emotional and creative development of a child. The book is remarkable for its artistic imagery and expressiveness.
Thematic exhibitions were organized for the 2nd International Paskievich Readings in the Homiel Regional Universal Library. Photographs of the artworks from the Paskievich collection kept in the Hermitage are presented at the exhibition "The Artistic Heritage of the Paskievich Family", organized together with the Homiel Palace and Park Ensemble.
In the Museum of Rare Books, the participants of the conference could see the permanent exhibition, as well as the exhibition "Binding of Times" - an exhibition of books from the Paskievichy library, as well as publications from the library collection regarding the life and work of Ivan, Fiodar and Iryna Ivanovna Paskievich.
As part of the conference program, the participants visited the leading cultural institutions of the city and got acquainted with the current scientific, exhibition and educational activities of the Homiel Palace and Park Ensemble, a branch of the Vietka Museum of Old Believers and Belarusian Traditions named after F.G. Shkliarau, Museum of Homiel History.
The National Library of Belarus expresses its deep gratitude to the organizers of the 2nd International Paskievich Readings for the rich and fruitful program, its high professional level and the relevance of the topics proposed. The conference became a platform for active scientific and professional dialogue in the format of live communication. The collection of reading materials is of undoubted interest for specialists in libraries, museums and archives, bibliologists, historians, culturologists and ethnographers.
Bibliology Research Department
