Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

Ayhan Tuğlu, director of the Presidential Library of Turkey, conducted a masterclass at the Baku State University Faculty of Information and Document Management on “The Role of Libraries in Preserving Cultural Heritage.”

In his lecture, Tuğlu provided a historical overview of libraries in Turkey, discussing the waqf libraries active during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, and emphasized the development of the library system during the Republican era. He highlighted that libraries have historically played a leading role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, and today, their role extends beyond book storage to functioning as social and cultural centers. He also stressed the importance of collaboration among leading libraries of the Turkic world, detailing ongoing projects and future goals.

The presentation included extensive information about the Presidential Library of Turkey itself, founded in 2020 on the initiative of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Tuğlu noted that it is the largest library in Turkey and ranks among the world’s leading libraries in terms of collections and services. The masterclass covered the library’s structure, document circulation, book collections, acquisition sources, user statistics, and cultural events, exhibitions, and projects. He also highlighted the library’s contributions to preserving Turkic cultural heritage and promoting international cultural diplomacy.

The session attracted strong interest from students, who asked numerous questions. Discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration between the Presidential Library of Turkey and the BSU Faculty of Information and Document Management, including joint scientific conferences, masterclasses, and internship opportunities for students at the library.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)