Library professionals from all over the world discussed the development of inclusive digital literacy at ENU

The Scientific Library of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University hosted the international conference "Inclusive Digital Literacy for All: Uniting Communities for a Common Future" as part of the 89th International Library and Information Congress IFLA WLIC 2025, which will be held in Astana between August 18 and 22. The event is organized by the IFLA Information Literacy Section and is aimed at promoting digital education and inclusion, and is attended by library professionals from around the world.

The purpose of the conference is to unite communities through the development of inclusive digital literacy, the exchange of experience and the effective implementation of modern technologies in library activities.

The ENU conference was attended by international experts from 11 countries and about 60 responsible specialists from libraries of Kazakhstani universities. Among them:

Zoltan Sandor Kovacs (Hungary), an expert in the field of digital security and public libraries;

Dr. Nisha Singh (India), a researcher on community development through digital literacy;

Naomi Mwaura (Kenya), a specialist in the development of an inclusive digital literacy framework;

Dr. Sharon Yang (USA), a professor specializing in digital literacy teaching methods.;

Dr. Leili Seifi (Iran), the project manager for improving the digital literacy of farmers in rural areas.

The conference was opened by Bakytzhan Orazaliyev, Director of the ENU Scientific Library. Gulzhan Irzhanova, President of the Association of University Libraries of Kazakhstan, and representatives of the IFLA Information Literacy Section delivered welcoming speeches.

"Combining knowledge, we shape the future" - under this global motto, IFLA WLIC 2025 starts on August 18 at the EXPO Congress Hall in Astana and ends on August 22. More than 1,600 delegates from 114 countries will take part in the congress. Vicki McDonald, President of the IFLA and Director General of the Library of Queensland (Australia), will arrive in Kazakhstan.

Today, such events are held on the basis of six universities in Astana, and one of these sites is ENU. Holding an international-level event at the Eurasian National University is an important step that not only promotes the professional growth of specialists, but also improves the quality of information services.

The expected results are the exchange of experience with professionals from different parts of the world and Central Asian countries, development through presentations and workshops, as well as the opportunity to present our university and library," Bakytzhan Orazaliev, Director of the ENU Scientific Library noted.

"IFLA is the largest global organization of librarianship professionals. It was founded in 1927 in Edinburgh (Scotland). Currently, the headquarters of this cultural organization is located in the Royal Library in The Hague (Netherlands). The international organization collects, analyzes and distributes the best practices of librarianship from different countries, as well as organizes information exchanges," Naomi Mwaurah, a specialist in the development of an inclusive digital literacy framework (Kenya) shared.

During the event, the conference participants also visited the ENU library and visited the museums "History of Writing", "Education" and "Gumilyov".