The Centre's two main goals are to inform the Russian librarian community about the new trends in young adult services in libraries abroad and to inform the world librarian community about Russian libraries and their best young adult services and programmes. The Centre also ensures RSLYA's participation in international library projects; supports and advises Russian libraries that wish to find foreign partners; collaborates with foreign professional associations such as IFLA, YALSA, etc.
To share information about the best foreign young adult services and programmes the Centre maintains a news blog, Libraries and Youth: International Practices, and a section on Librarian Union website called Foreign Practices, where translated research papers, articles, and library «portraits» are posted. The Centre has also developed a questionnaire for librarians and readers, available in five languages on LIBPLANET.ORG. Learning seminars abroad are organized for Russian librarians.
Recently, the Centre has started to translate and publish books on young adult services. In 2012, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, has given RSLYA several methodology books; two of them have been translated by the Centre's staff. A translation of Jenine Lillian's Cool Teen Programmes for under $100 has been published by Professiya Editions. Another book, Risky Business: Taking and Managing Risks in Library Services for Teens by Linda W. Braun, Hillias J. Martin, and Connie Urquhart, will be published in 2015.
The most unusual project that brings foreign libraries' young adult services practices to Russian librarians is Project Library Planet. RSLYA staff visit successful modern young adult libraries in different countries, make short films about them, and add Russian subtitles. So far, films about young adult services in public libraries in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland and other countries have been produced and can be seen in our monthly online newspaper or on our .
To spread information about Russian libraries, RSLYA takes part in the activities of the IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section — RSLYA director Ms. Irina Mikhnova is a member of the Section's Standing Committee. For example, articles about the best practices in Russian libraries are published in the Section's Newsletter and on its official Facebook page.
The Centre has also translated the Russian Library Association's Guidelines for Young Adult Library Services in Russian Public Libraries into English. The translation is available on our website and has been passed on to IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section Standing Committee.
The Centre collaborates with RSLYA's Foreign Languages Room on another international project — Book Patchwork, a collection of popular books for, about and by young people.
RSLYA is the only Russian member of the UK Lewis Carroll Society, which was formed in 1969 with the aim of encouraging research into the life and works of Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) and currently has 400 members around the world. With support from the Lewis Carroll Society RSLYA held a big event called A Night Behind the Looking-Glass as part of the National Library Night 2014. Information about Alice in Wonderland 150th Anniversary events in Russian libraries has been passed on for publication in the Society's journals.
In 2015, RSLYA will celebrate Carroll's famous book's 150th anniversary with a national book trailer competition with support from the Lewis Carroll Society.
RSLYA takes part in IFLA project Sister Libraries, where libraries can find partners from other countries to exchange experiences and develop joint programmes.
Head:
Ms. Maria Alekseeva
Contact:
+7 (499) 161-12-38
info@rgub.ru
