Insight

              taff members from the Illinois
State Library, the State Museum
and Springfield’s Lincoln Public
Library participated in a two-week library
and museum exchange program in Russia
in January.
The Mortenson Foundation of the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and the Soros Foundation facilitated the
program. Representing the State Library
was Director Jean Wilkins; Mike Ragen,
chief deputy director; Sharon Ruda, director of the
library’s Talking Book and Braille Service; Bonnie
Matheis and Carolyn Bodewes.
“Russia is a nation in transition,” said Wilkins. “For
a society that was once closed to new information
and the outside world, the Russian people are
eager to discover new ideas and resources. One of
the most amazing aspects of our visit to libraries
was that the reading rooms were always filled.
Russia’s citizens are using their libraries in great
numbers, which portends well for their future."
The group toured libraries and museums in
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, Suzdal, Gus-
Khrustalny and Bogoroditsk, including:
Library of Foreign Literature
One of the highlights of the exchange program was
a visit to the Library of Foreign Literature in
Moscow. The library has more than 700
employees and was filled with patrons, mostly
students. The library hosted a dinner for the
Illinois visitors, during which the library’s director
general and deputy director general discussed the
struggles the library endured during the Soviet
regime in building and maintaining a collection of
resources. Like many American libraries, the
Library of Foreign Literature faces funding and
storage concerns. However, they welcome the new
openness and intellectual freedoms that allow their
library to fully serve the Russian people.
Bogoroditsk
In the small, rural city of Bogoroditsck south of
Moscow, a meeting was held between the
Americans and Russian library and cultural
officials. The Russians were asked what they
considered to be the biggest challenge they face as
librarians. Their response was the need to keep
their collections updated for legal information to be
used by local government officials.
Russian National Library
The group toured the Russian National Library in
St. Petersburg, which holds more than 35 million
items. Among the more interesting items are
original letters written by George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson, which the Russians are very
proud to have in their collection.
Wilkins said the exchange program was a
remarkable educational experience for all the those
who participated. “Russian and American libraries
face common challenges—the need for more
space, updated technology and increased funding
for operations. But the library communities in both
nations are encouraged by the pivotal role that
libraries are playing in the development of our
communities." March/April
in
this
issue
Library Staff
Visits Russian
libraries
Gates Library
Grant Update
9/11 Teleconference
ILA Awards
HGTV book
appraiser at 2002
Authors Book Fair
Library
Advocacy Day
State Library staff
visits Russian libraries
2002
Jesse White • Secretary of State & State Librarian
A Newsletter from the Illinois State Library
INSIGHT
While in Russia, State Library personnel met Count Vladimir Tolstoy
(standing, fifth from right), the great-grandson of the acclaimed War and
Peace author, Leo Tolstoy. Seated second from the left is Larisa D.
Kovirzenkova, director of the Department for Culture, Art and
Cinematography Administration of Russia’s Tula Region.