The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Özay Oral Library continues to celebrate the 54th Library Week with a range of activities. The celebrations that commenced with artist Leyla Çınar Algül’s photography exhibition titled “Traces of the Past in Cypriot Homes-2” continued with a book reading activity that took place on Wednesday, the 28th of March 2018 between 11:30 and 12:00 in the EMU Özay Oral Library Yard. The book reading event that takes place concurrently in Turkey and the TRNC was organized in collaboration with the Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association and this year’s guests were students and teachers from the İskele Şehit İlker Karter Primary School.
The 7th annual book reading event was attended by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Vice Rector for International Affairs and Promotion Prof. Dr. Cem Tanova, Faculty of Education Dean Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam, EMU Özay Oral Library Director and Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association President Osman Soykan, Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association Board Member Mavişe Uysal, İskele Şehit İlker Karter Primary School Headmaster Coşkun Akyerli, Cyprus Turkish Education Foundation Board Member Derviş Hasipoğlu, library personnel and EMU students.
“I Come with a Very Special Book”
Speaking at the opening of the event, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam stated that he loves reading and that reading is an important tool for the development of communities. Indicating that he came to the event with a very special book Prof. Dr. Osam stated: “I brought with me former EMU Health Center Chief Physician and former EMU Board of Trustees President the late Dr. Turhan Korun’s book ‘Ben De Yazdım’ that I have not been able to put down since I picked up. We remember him with respect.”
EMU Özay Oral Library Director and Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association President Osman Soykan noted that reading isn’t at the desired level in the country and that their aim is to emphasize the importance of libraries. Soykan indicated that libraries play a big part in instilling the love of books and touched upon the insufficiency of library services in primary schools in the country. Soykan stated that they are working hard to bring practices of modern school libraries to the TRNC. Meanwhile, Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association Board Member Mavişe Uysal thanked the EMU Rector’s Office for hosting this beautiful event.
Plaque of Appreciation for Participants
After the speeches, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam presented İskele Şehit İlker Karter Primary School Headmaster Coşkun Akyerli, Cyprus Turkish Education Foundation Board Member Derviş Hasipoğlu and Deniz Plaza Representative Ahmet Aslanavlar certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the event. After the activity, Cyprus Turkish Librarians Association President and Board Members visited EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam in his office at 14:30 providing information about the work they are carrying out and their activities. At the end of the visit, Prof. Dr. Osam was presented a plaque of appreciation for his interest in and contributions to librarians in the country.
