Shakhodat Akhmedova: “The Russian classics simply in great demand!”

Any library can tell much how the culture in the country develops. Especially such large as Samarkand library. To tell more precisely, it is the Samarkand A.S. Pushkin regional information and library center whom Shakhodat Akhmedova directs. We also talked about books, and that is connected with them in today's Uzbekistan:
- The library received the name in 1937 when it was 100 years from the date of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin's death. Since then we bear this name with honor and pride. Pushkin is not only the Russian poet, but he is the figure of world value. His creativity was recognized by the whole world!
Our library is one of the largest in the republic. More than 700 thousand units are in our fund. We have very big rare fund – about 10 thousand copies of books of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Now there are 14 such centers as ours in the republic. According to the number of areas.
The literature is in the most different languages: not only Uzbek and Russian languages, but also English, German, French, Arab … In total about 30 languages.
- Now it is accepted to say that people began to read less. Is it concerns you?
- Yes, it is a traditional question. And when it is set, it very irritates me. For that simple reason that, on the contrary, in the last 5-6 years the number of readers steadily grows. First of all at the expense of studying youth. Our reader is the student's youth, pupils of schools, colleges, lyceums. The soul rejoices when you see that our halls are full. And we are proud of it: after all it is great when the youth read!
- The Soviet Union isn't present already more than twenty years. Did this fact affect the receipt of literature in the Russian language to you?
- The need for literature in different languages grows. In December of last year the president of Uzbekistan signed the decree about learning of foreign languages at schools, including, English and German. He constantly emphasizes in the performances that Uzbekistan is the multinational country; more than hundred nationalities live here. It means that language skill is necessary for our people.
The Russian is one of leading languages; it is the language of international communication. Certainly, during a complete set of funds we consider the needs of readers; we order also the literature in the Russian language.
- Which literature do you order?
- Here is the fresh example. There was a resolution of the cabinet of the republic on landscaping development in Uzbekistan, and we ordered a number of the Russian editions as they are popular. The magazine “Za Rulem” is very much popular too. Much attention is now paid to the development of information technologies therefore we receive a number of the Russian editions on this subject.
We work directly with the company in Tashkent which delivers us the Russian editions. Not to be mistaken with a choice, we study the opinion of our readers: we ask, carry out the polls. We are very grateful to all who gives us the books: from our population to the various cultural centers.
For example, many years the Russian cultural center helps us with it: it provides the books in the Russian language free of charge. Among them there is a lot of children's literature and manuals. Closely we contact to information center of embassy of the USA in Uzbekistan. They provided us very interesting books for children and literature on English studying. Now after the decree of the president it is especially actual for us. More than 10 years we work with the German embassy, with Goethe institute in Tashkent. The German reading room works.
- Is the English start studying at school from the very beginning of training process now?
- The matter is that English is taught already in kindergarten. We even have a special program on English studying in kindergartens on the Bolajon channel. Well, there is a stage-by-stage process of training further. All understand that it is necessary today.
- Of course, the time changes the tastes of people and they already changed. But in what sense? !
Changed to the best! Many people read the Russian classics. And it is very pleasant to me to speak about it. I will note such phenomenon: now Gogol and Dostoevsky are asked not only in the Russian, but also in the Uzbek language. The Russian classics are simply in great demand!