Yoshkar-Ola - the University Library Capital of Russia

Last year, Evgenia Uskova, the head librarian of the Electronic Resources Department of the R. A. Panova State University Research Library, won the best award among her colleagues from all Russian universities. All thanks to her participation in the national competition "Leadership Laboratory - 2021: Best University Librarian" which was held for the first time. In order to win, they had to pass tests in several stages. It was not easy to become the first, as Evgeniya admits:

"At the third, second stage, I even wanted to withdraw from the competition, because you read the task and understand that you don't even know half of the terms. After all, we are librarians, if we do not know something, we understand where we can find it. Got the team together, pulled myself together and won!"

The victory of the librarian from Mari State University brought the city of Yoshkar-Ola the title of the university library capital of Russia. Winners and runners-up of the competition get an opportunity to take part in the Skolkovo Innovation Centre as well as in the best library centres in Russian cities.

The ceremony of receiving the title "University Library Capital of Russia 2022" was held by videoconference. It was attended by the chancellor of Mari State University Mikhail Shvetsov, acting deputy mayor and head of education Dmitry Yurkin, secretary of the Mari regional branch of the United Russia party Evgeny Kuzmin, as well as representatives of the university.

"Receiving this award is a victory not only for the university, but also for the city of Yoshkar-Ola, which receives the status of the university library capital of Russia. A number of events will be held within the framework of the city and its libraries during the year. The librarian of the 21st century is not just a person handing out books to readers and going through old cards. It is a truly advanced specialist in terms of modern technology, whose aim is not only to provide information, but to do it in such a way that the younger generation understands everything, accepts it and, of course, gets interested. Evgenia Valerievna is breaking this stereotype of the profession by setting an excellent example for students and teachers alike," says Mikhail Shvetsov.