The Russian State Library (RSL) is one of the 24 Basic Participants of The European Library. We interviewed Elena Zimina, Deputy Director of International Communication Department about the RSL partnership with The European Library, with other national libraries across Europe and its collaborative level with Russian cultural institutions.

Elena Zimina joined the RSL in July 2006. She previously worked in the private sector and the American Cultural Centre in Moscow. Elena’s daily activities involve managing the Virtual Reference Service (OCLC) that enables RSL’s staff to broadcast reference questions to library users, and monitoring The European Library collaboration.

How is the partnership between the Russian State Library (RSL) and The European Library considered in your organisation?
Collaborating with The European Library is of course prestigious for the RSL; we regard this partnership as profitable and strategically important. We already promote The European Library through our representative status as Russian State Library; the linking programme for example was a good opportunity for us to promote The European Library on national ground. However, the step towards Full Partnership is unfortunately a financial matter at this point; we hope to be able to join as soon as the situation is economically feasible.

To what extent does the RSL collaborate with other national libraries?
The RSL has an extensive collaboration programme with other national libraries throughout the territory, the ex Soviet Union countries and with Western Europe. The level of collaboration is multiple and goes from expert exchange programmes to book exchange, frame agreements, virtual library projects, etc. The collaboration level with ex Soviet Union countries and the National Library of Russia (NB of Russia (http://www.nlr.ru/eng/

Is the RSL currently collaborating with other cultural institutions such as archives or museums?
The RSL has an agreement with the State Archive on microfilming preservation. However, the level of collaboration is generally focused on exhibition activities. For example the RSL and the German Historical Museum are currently organising the “Art and Propaganda” exhibition featured in Berlin until the end of April. Similarly, the RSL, Tretiakov Art Gallery in Moscow and Artemizia foundation in Italy are involved in the organisation of “Saint Nicholas – Figure and Image, from East to West” – Bari, Italy, Castello Svevo. Last, the exhibition “Russia & the Soviet Union: Art, Literature, Theatre 1905 -1940″ organised in collaboration with Palacco Ducale was held in Genova – Italy from October 2006 until January 2007.

Source: European National Library Newsletter

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