The Day of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Belarus
The Yanka Kupala Central Library in Minsk has hosted the Day of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Belarus. During the event, the ceremonial signing of the regulations of the International Research Paper Competition ‘Literary destinies of Belarus and Russia: from dialogue to understanding’ took place. The new season will start in January 2023.
As part of the traditional Day of St Petersburg University in the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Babich, Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions, and Iurii Makushin, Head of the Representative Office of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) in the Republic of Belarus (the Russian House in Minsk), presented commendations to representatives of partner institutions for organisational and methodological support of the contest at the highest level: Elena Matveeva, Director of Minsk Centralised System of State Public Libraries; Viktoriia Zabolotets, Deputy Director; and Ivan Saverchenko, Director of the Yanka Kupala Institute of Literary Studies of the Centre for Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature Research of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus.
The new season of the competition will offer Belarusian and Russian schoolchildren an opportunity to explore the work of two outstanding writers: Ales Adamovich and Daniil Granin, who co-authored The Blockade Book, a documentary chronicle of the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.
To participate in the qualifying stage, which runs from 1 January to 20 February 2023, participants should submit their research papers in written form. In the final stage, the reports with research findings will be heard by the jury in person.
The meeting also featured a presentation on: the University; its academic and research potential; intellectual contests for schoolchildren; and the procedure of admission to St Petersburg University for citizens of the Republic of Belarus in 2023. Additionally, the participants in the meeting were able to learn about: the modern role of libraries in preserving the creative heritage of Belarusian and Russian writers and poets; and the great educational work carried out by these institutions.
In the new season of the competition, the University partner became Daniil Granin Library No 9 of the Nevskaya Centralised Library System in St Petersburg, represented by its Head Olga Andreeva. Head Librarian Tatiana Ermachenko and Chief Bibliographer Elena Rusiaeva spoke in detail about the activities of the library and the aspects of work with Daniil Granin’s works. Marina Karpova, Director of the M. Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University, also made a presentation on the current capabilities of the University library and the resources available to its users.