The Magtymguly National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan develops effective cooperation in the field of preserving cultural heritage with specialized international organizations and structures, colleagues from many countries of the world.
Recently, employees of the US Library of Congress arrived in Ashgabat with another working mission - the head of the department Yasmin Khan and the chief specialist in preservation and paper restoration Tamara Okhanyan, as well as one of the co-founders of the Merrion & Smith organization William Bradford Smith, project manager for the preservation of manuscripts at the National Institute Language, Literature and Manuscripts of Turkmenistan, which is being implemented with the financial support of the American Ambassadors Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.
From April 23 to May 5, the staff of the US Library of Congress will conduct lectures and practical classes with specialists and students of Turkmenistan on the use of new methods for the preservation and restoration of artifacts. Employees of the Restoration and Preservation Department of the National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts will be trained in modern methods of working with restoration material, using technical means for lithographic publications.
The program of the visit of the American delegation to Ashgabat began with meetings at the National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts named after Makhtumkuly ANT. On April 26, students of the library department of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture listened to lectures by Tamara Okhanyan on the restoration and conservation of Islamic manuscripts and Yasmin Khan on the work of the US Library of Congress. The next day, they held practical classes with students at the National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts.
The program also includes a meeting with employees of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, where prospects for further cooperation will be discussed. On April 28 and in the first half of May 1, American specialists will conduct practical classes with colleagues from the National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts and students of the Institute of Culture. A meeting is also scheduled with employees of libraries and museums of the country, which will be held at the State Museum of Turkmenistan. On May 2, 3, 4, employees of the Library of Congress are planning to conduct practical classes at the National Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts together with specialists from the libraries of Turkmenistan.
The material stored in the manuscript fund of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of the Academy of Sciences is able to shed light on little-studied issues of history and culture not only of the Turkmens, but also of other peoples of the region, with whom they are connected by common historical and spiritual roots. In order for the specialists of the Institute and future generations to be able to work with valuable manuscripts, they must be restored and preserved. Therefore, the staff of the Institute highly appreciate the practical assistance of American specialists in the preservation of the national manuscript heritage.
