IREX
International Research & Exchanges Board

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Regional Library Information Centers (RLIC) Program

April 2007


Ambassador Pashayev
Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev
Participates in Online Community
Discussion

Ambassodor Pashayev
Ambassodor Pashayev reads
comments


Improving Communication: Ambassador Pashayev Participates in RLIC Forum

Through a series of online forums, RLIC users had a rare opportunity to correspond directly with top government representatives. The final RLIC discussion was moderated by former Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States, Hafiz Pashayev, who currently acts as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the founder of a newly established diplomatic academy.

Ambassador Pashayev answered participant questions for a two hours session, providing citizens information regarding the establishment and development of the Diplomatic Academy. He explained the admission process and academic vision of the academy, which will focus on International Security, Conflict Resolution, Energy Policy, and International Business and Finance. Mr. Pashayev informed participants that all courses will be taught in English and scores from the TOEFL, TBC, GMAT and GRE examinations will be required for entrance. The Ambassador also discussed the academy’s partnerships with the John Hopkins University, Georgetown University, and the George Marshall Center in Berlin.

This RLIC forum, in line with the RLIC program, advances the relationship between communities and government; as RLIC users gained access to information about the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baku and Ambassador Pashayev shared his plans for the future development of Azerbaijan directly with the electorate across the nation.

 

Marking Three Years: RLIC’s Impact on Khachmaz

Leaders of RLIC are well Supported
Leaders of RLIC are well supported

Over the course of three years, RLIC has become an important center of community life in the city of Khachmaz. This accomplishment was marked by approximately 70 community members who attended the on April 13th.

Through activities and events conducted at the center, librarians, teachers, students, and community leaders find sanctuary in the RLIC. This support is demonstrated by the impressions of the RLIC staff and level of commitment shown by community members. The Site Monitor Gulshan Yusifova and RLDP Librarian Trainer Sevda Ismayilova are said to represent one of the strongest RLIC/RLDP teams in Azerbaijan. Their leadership created and now is supported by a well established community of active users, Peace Corps Volunteers, and an English Club. Locals endearingly referred to this community as the “library mafia,” due to their high-level of commitment to RLIC events and trainings.

The administration of the library is highly supportive of RLIC as was demonstrated by remarks made on at the celebration of the center’s third anniversary, attended by approximately 70 members of the community, including Director of the Khachmaz library Azad Alikhanov and the directors of several schools. The director of the schools discussed how their students benefited from the RLIC; one shared, “This center has become a favorite place for our students and teachers. They not only learn about computers and IT technology, but also attend events, which provides children a great opportunity for out-of-school development.” Director of the Khachmaz library, Mr. Alikhanov added, “This center is helping us tremendously. The library is getting more active, as RLIC users are also becoming library users. I am very glad that Khachmaz is s RLIC location and wish continued successes to the project team.”

RLIC Creates Salyan’s First School Homepage

http://mekteb.iatp.az

Despite the fact that most schools in Azerbaijan do not offer basic computer classes, Salyan School No. 1 now is one of the first schools to have a website. In April, following a request from the School’s Director, RLIC assisted Salyan School No. 1 to develop its website. The RLIC staff involved the administrators, teachers, and students in the process by having them provide data on the school, region, and its people. School Director Mr. Rasim Zeynalov said of the experience, “This was a very positive experience for our school. Not only that we created a website but the process itself was interesting- everyone was excited and you could see how teachers and students worked together toward the same goal. We are proud to be one of the first schools with its own internet site.”

Gebele Librarians Take the First Steps in Establishing an Electronic Database

Librarians working on Online
Librarians working on Online

Librarians in the Gebele region have begun the first steps to developing an electronic database for their library. The Embassy’s Regional Library Development Program’s Librarian Trainer Agibat Babayeva recently attended a two week seminar in Baku on establishing electronic databases for local libraries. Upon returning to Gebele, Agibat used RLIC to begin developing a database for their library. She first presented the information she had learned in Baku to her colleagues, who are now helping her by advancing their MS Office and Excel skills and by creating the start of a database on the Gebele regional staff. These efforts will hopefully feed into the development of a comprehensive library database in Gebele.

Tech Age Girls Updates:

Lala Musayeva
Lala Musayeva Gives Presentation

The TAG program in Azerbajan inspirers other women-focused projects and is allowing young women to present on challenges facing their nation. TAG girls are also enhancing their leadership skills by participating in cultural events. Below are highlights of this month’s accomplishments:

  • Neftchala - Following the example of the TAG project, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Neftchala, Brent Ladd recently opened up a women’s English conversation club, which he sees as particularly important in regions of southern Azerbaijan where women’s participation in public life is often discouraged by local traditions.

  • Gobustan - Being one of the youngest participants of the TAG project has not discouraged Lala Musayeva from taking an active role in the TAG program. On April 7th she conducted a presentation called “Our Azerbaijan,” in which she spoke on the role of women in Azerbaijani society. Other TAG participants in Gebele, presented a slideshow on national ecological concerns.

  • Ismayilli - On April 30th, TAG participants in Ismayilli gave an informative PowerPoint presentation to peers about the TAG project. The presenters discussed how both the participants and their friends and peers have benefited from the knowledge and information that they have gained through the project.

  • Khachmaz - TAG participant, Besti Mammadova recently received second place in a regional musical competition, where she sang traditional Azerbaijani songs. Another TAG participant Gulcahan Mammadseyidova recently organized several shows of her paintings in Khachmaz.

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