YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "Library policy conception is not operating in Armenia as yet, however, we should take distinct steps in that direction," Anahit Galstian, the Head of the Department of Libraries and Museums of the RA Ministry of Culture, mentioned at the international conference titled "Developments of library science and problems of national libraries", which was organized on October 25 within the frameworks of the 175th anniversary of the National Library of Armenia. According to her, certain work is already being conducted in that direction, a state program directed at the development of libraries has been implemented since 2004. At present, the capital libraries, as well as the regional ones are in the center of attention of the state. The sums allocated to the library sphere from the state budget have also increased for the past years: if 296 million 634 thousand drams were allocated in 2004, in 2008 allocations of 590 million 533 thousand drams (approximately 1.8 million U.S. dollars) are envisaged. 50 million drams a year are envisaged to be allocated in 2008-2010 by the program of acquiring technical equipment. It was also mentioned that a restoration program of libraries will be implemented from the next year. It is envisaged to allocate 484 million drams from the state budget for the repair of the National Library of Armenia and the Khnko Aper National Children's Library in 2008. Galina Kislovskaya, the Director for International Activities of the Russian State Library, Charlotte Iszekutz, the President of the "Armenian Roots of Transylvania" company, and others as well made reports at the conference. The proceedings of the conference will be continued on October 26.

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