Renovated National Library of Lithuania Seeks Cooperation with Lithuanians Abroad

Karile Vaitkute
Editor of The Lithuanian Museum Review

At the National Library of LIthuania, from left: Head of the Lithuanian Studies Department Jolanta Budriūnienė and The Lithuanian Museum Review Editor Karilė Vaitkutė.
At the National Library of Lithuania, from left:
Head of the Lithuanian Studies Department
Jolanta Budriūnienė and The Lithuanian
Museum Review Editor Karilė Vaitkutė.

After eight years of reconstruction the National Library of Lithuania was opened to the public. After the reconstruction, the Library will continue to be dedicated to the readers, but it will also host creative activities, projects and trainings. The
Library is going to work according to the model of the British Library.

In August of 2016 I had a chance to visit the renovated Lithuanian National
Library by an invitation from the Head of the Lithuanian Studies Department Jolanta Budriūnienė and the Department’s Chief Researcher Dalia Cidzikaitė. The Lithuanian Studies Department deals with collecting and showcasing books, periodicals and archival material published by Lithuanians abroad, including Lithuanian Americans. Mrs. Budriūnienė expressed a great interest in cooperation between the Lithuanian National Library and the Balzekas Museum which is one of the major centers of
Lithuanians in the US.

Chief Researcher Dalia Cidzikaitė at her work desk at the National Library of LIthuania
Chief Researcher Dalia Cidzikaitė at her work desk at the National
Library of LIthuania

At the moment, the Lithuanian National Library makes the publications of
Lithuanians abroad accesible to the public in the Library’s reading room. I was excited to see the latest issue of the Lithuanian Museum Review on the top shelf among other publicatios of emigre Lithuanians.Chief specialist Dalia Cidzikaitė showed me the holdings of the Lithuanian Studies Department. The archives hold books, periodicals and archival material including those that belonged to famous Lithuanians, such as Stasys Lozoraitis. Ms Cidzikaitė pointed out that books published by

Publications of emigre Lithuanians. The LIthuanian Museum Review magazine is on top shelf on the right.
Publications of emigre Lithuanians. The Lithuanian
Museum Review magazine is on top shelf on the right.

Americans of Lithuanian descent, such as their memoirs and/or fiction are very welcomed at the Lithuanian National Library. Those interested in donating are asked to contact Ms Cidzikaitė at dalia.
cidzikaite@gmail.com. The National Library has a variety of virtual exhibits
which might be of great interest to the readers. One such exhibit might be of particular interest as it deals with material published in foreign press during 1990, the year of restoration of Lithuania’s independence.

The Lithuanian Museum Review Jul – Sep 2016 Issue 255