24 January 2019 New Generation Libraries to Appear in Komi 21 January, the administration of the Troitsko-Pechorsk region hosted a round-table discussion for librarians of the Komi Republic. The meeting gathered 45 professionals who aimed to review the implementation of the 2019 federal project for the establishment of municipal model libraries as part of the national Culture project.
According to minister of culture, tourism and archives of Komi Sergey Emelianov, 269.72 million rubles are allocated to Komi from the federal budget for realization of the Culture project that has been launched this year.
One of the project objectives is creation of a network of municipal model libraries in Russia. Within a 6-year span of the project, it is planned to set up 660 model municipal libraries with a view to improve the quality of library services.
It was stated that 16 libraries of the region have submitted their applications to take part in the Russian project - New Generation Library.
"The New Generation Library project will transform our libraries into modern popular information, cultural and communication centres. Investments shall be made into modernization of equipment and furniture, supply of digital information services, and advanced training of the personnel" – said the minister, – "We are planning to create new model library centres in every municipality; they will set higher standards of library services".
The regional project office for the establishment of model libraries in the region is opened at the National Library of the Komi Republic. Director of the library, Olga Miftakhova pointed out the most important features of the new generation library centres: multi-functional space, possibility to transform the library environment depending on the event and users' needs, open access to books and centralized access to e-resources.
Olga Miftakhova emphasized that the key to successful transformation of libraries is a dedicated team, open to changes and ready to move forward. "A new type of public library can make people's social life more varied and interesting, providing intellectual enrichment and communication," - said Miftakhova.
The federal subsidy for libraries participating in the New Generation Library project is 5 million rubles for smaller local libraries to 10 million rubles for central municipal libraries.
The online discussion of the project involved director of interregional cooperation of the Russian State Foreign Literature Library Anastasia Dyatlovskaya. She stated that although Komi is a pilot region for the project, all the preconditions are there, including the model standard for libraries, road-map for project implementation and the project office.
Summing up, Anastasia Diatlovskaya announced the number of libraries participating in the project in 2019 - 20 libraries of the Komi Republic and the total of 110 in Russia.
The New Generation Library project is part of a larger initiative - Cultural Environment project aiming at improving living standards through a large-scale modernization and renovation of the infrastructure of cultural facilities, from urban areas to remote rural locations. | 
