“The Possible Ways of Strengthening of Financial condition: Ust-Kamenogorsk CLS’s”

Ust'-Kamenogorsk has always had developed library infrastructure. The Centralized Library System is one of its important elements. It includes Central City Library, Central Children’s Library and 10 library-branches.

In February of 2004 I was appointed as the Director of Centralized Library System. The top priority task was to keep the goals put by the previous Director Kozhakhanova S.S.. She determined of CLS’s strategy for the nearest future: automatizing the library processes , introducing innovative methods, improving professional skills of the librarians.
These goals could be only reached by proper financial condition. If we take a point the fact that it was very hard time for our country and there was lack of finance, it was almost unreal to respond to the demand of the times.
Although I hate asking for money I had to persuade the staff to get money ourselves, to find the way of none-budget financing. We worked really hard to prove the local Government that it was worth investing money in CLS developing.
The important source of non- budget financing was our participation in the competitions and we got grants. Thanks to the PO “Knigolub” the CLS had 11 granted projects within 2001- 2007 years. It helped us to develop the material and technical bases and to improve professional skills of the librarians. The CLS specialists took part in the International Conferences and Seminars thanks to the grants given by “SOROS-Kazakhstan” and the association ELNIT (Electronic Library and New Information Technologies).

The participations in the Social Projects Fairs and other different kinds of the Republic and regional competitions give us extra sources which let us develop the material and technical basis of the library. Within 2007 owing to non- budget financing the CLS’s libraries replenished 5 156 new books, while the budget means allow us to get 3 281 books.

In 2004 we created Mass Advertising Department was established, the main task of this department is to make positive image of the library. Each citizen must know where the CLS is situated, what kind of activities we do and services provide. The image making process began from the simple steps: creating the own symbol, signs which even the Central City Library had not had. We also made booklets and souvenirs. Today we continue our image making activity by realizing significant projects together with mass media, weekly interviews on Television about the library events. Annually more than 30 interviews shown, many of them are shown more than one time. In 2007 there were 49 articles published on the pages of mass media. They had as advertising and information as analytical character.

The city officials must know about the CLS’s activities too, so we need to be persistent and invite them to our libraries as often as possible. It gives us opportunities to demonstrate them our experiences, innovations and to tell them about our problems. Thanks to the assistance of the City Culture Department in 2005 year Akim’s ( the City’s Major) visit was arranged to the library. Positive comments of the Akim about the CLS’s work attracted the attention of the public. Also we were given an mini cinema by the Oblast Akim. His gift allows us to hold activities supported by high technique.
Among the guest of the library were Executives of the Muslikhat Deputies. We arranged meetings of the Akim with the representatives of the intelligentsia. In 2007 year Akim of the city Sh. S. Buktugutov was a guest of the Children and Youth Books Week and he rewarded the best readers with gifts. He also took part in opening library-branch # 2 after the capital repairs, in opening public access to the Internet according to the program “Electronic Ambessy”.At the traditional corporative party “Librarian’s day he gave certificates to the ”Library of the Year”. The staff of the CLS respond to the inquiries of the Culture and Language Developing Department and the City’s Government on social and political, juridical questions. Weekly, information lists from periodicals are made for higher official institutions.

“Ust-Kamenogorsk in Mass Media”

“Culture News”

“Youth and Time”

Central City Library supports different kinds of events held in our city: seminars, conferences and so on.
CLS proves that means invested in the library system can be compensated by increasing the quality of service. According to that the CLS makes annual presentation report about its activity.

The most important moment for CLS is the fact that in April 2006 it became independent from the Ust-Kamenogorsk Culture and Language Development Department and got the status of State Institution. That period was very hard for us because the Culture and Language Development Department had bee in charge of CLS for 25 years. Independence and the status of State Institution allowed to reveal the service quality problems and to find the ways of their solutions. According to the results of the reported information at the sitting in Akimat in 2007 “About in automotization in CLS’s libraries of Ust-Kamenogorsk” the decision about given money for not only completing the process of providing with computers, but even replacing the old computers by new ones.

What do we have today?

The budget of Ust-Kamenogorsk CLS had been icreased for 20 mln. tenge. since 2007. The sum given for acquisition was increased for 2,8 mln. tenge. Annually we gave 4 mln.tenge for current repairing of the libraries. By the first of March CLS has 80 computers and 30 computers at the readers service. All the 12 library-branches have computers. 8 of the branches have access to Internet
Increasing the number of readers and users says that libraies are demanded. In 2007 CLS’s libraries served 50 540 constant readers, the number of attendances was 373 578. The total collection of CLS was 390 942 copies by 01.03.2008. Annually more than 8000 references are responded.

We have a huge amount of unsettled problems, many difficulties, but I believe the staff of the CLS is ready to manage all problems and difficulties.

Bukobaieva Anargul Amirbekovna- CLS’s Director

Ust-Kamenogorsk // Kitapkhana Alemy – Mir Biblioteki.

- 2008.- # 2. - P.46- 47.