Fifteen-year-old Julietta Movsisian will no longer huddle over her books in the cold, since next winter the library in the city of Charentsavan will have heating and proper conditions, just like those in the rest of the world.
“Most of my classmates use this library because here you can find many of the books recommended by our teachers but not found in the school library. I go to the library four times a month. Right now, I’m reading about the life of Nerses Shnorhali. I use the encyclopedia a lot,” says tenth-grader Julietta.
This year, with funds from the US Embassy, the Civilitas Foundation completed its project to partially renovate 10 libraries in the Armenian provinces and stock them with new books so that they will serve as centers for civil society as well as discussion centers.
Salpi Ghazarian is the director of the Civilitas Foundation. She believes that libraries have a unique capacity to serve the needs of citizens.
“There’s no other public institution that is open to the public for so many hours of the day, has such diverse sources and space, and which can serve as a center for students, adults, public organizations and all other groups. Anyone who visits a library has access to published materials, use of computers and the Internet, and can read, learn, formulate ideas, have debates, and maintain an exchange of information with others around them. This is the main objective of public libraries. However, our libraries haven’t been receiving the necessary funding to offer these services. This project is one step in that direction. That is to say: to help libraries so that they can provide real, accessible, free centers for civil society,” says Mrs. Ghazarian.
Vika Elchyan is the Civilitas Foundation’s coordinator for this project.
“Fourteen libraries from different provinces applied and 10 were selected. Of those 10, Aragatsotn and Armavir regional libraries, and the libraries in Ararat, Sisian and Charentzavan, have already received financing to begin renovation work,” she stated.
Another five libraries in Lori, Syunik, Gegharkunik, Shirak and Tavush provinces will have the opportunity to buy new books and a computer and a printer.
Ms. Elchyan says that the goal of the project is to turn the libraries into social centers that will become not only a place to read books, but a place that can host literary events, offer news and information, host presentations, and serve as a meeting place.
“All citizens may come to the library. Our goal is to create conditions that are welcoming. Today libraries are suffering not only in terms of lack of new books but also because of the condition of the buildings,” said Ms. Elchyan.
Charentsavan’s librarian, Larissa Zohrabyan, who has 21 years of work experience, agrees. “We need decent conditions. The children come here from school but some can’t stand the cold and leave,” she explains. “But there are children who, in these freezing conditions, still sit and read. The number of those who study Russian literature and read in the Russian language in general is going down. Instead, they are starting to read in English more but there is not enough literature in English,” says Ms. Zohrabyan.
The head of the library, Anahit Khechoyan has announced that in the spring they will begin renovation and it will take around six months to complete. “After the renovation, I imagine this library will become a center where interesting and exciting thoughts and ideas will be developed, and it will function as a meeting place. Over the years, we’ve lost some of our readers. The renovated building will make it possible to form a more literate public,” she stated.
Like other libraries in the region, the library in Charentsavan has received practically no new books for the past two decades.
“There is a need for every type of book. Except for the past few months, for over 20 years we pretty much haven’t received a new book. During the last year the library was restocked with 1200 new volumes. That’s because we appeal to publishers for new books and they usually do not refuse,” Ms. Khechoyan states with a delighted smile. But donations made from publishers and individuals from time to time are not enough to fill the two-decade void and provide the library with all of today’s indispensable publications. The libraries in the regions do not receive major Armenian news publications; thus those outside of Yerevan are deprived of their right to this information.
Besides the funds for renovation, the library in Charentsavan will also receive computers. By this summer, Ms. Khechoyan and her employees and Charentsavan readers, will have a library with a whole new look which will be well-lit and warm. Next winter, fifteen-year-old Julietta Movsisian will read Nerses Shnorhali and other classics in a warm room and won’t rush to get home early.