The first Jewish library of Kazakhstan opened in 1997 in Almaty. Its goal is to involve more people interested in learning about our people’s traditions. By now, the library grew from a small collection of books to a real cultural center with branches in fifteen cities of Kazakhstan.

We have a special feature of our library - a huge amount of work is done by volunteers. We could say without exaggerating that our library volunteers are the core of all Community programs and a driving force of new projects. Volunteers help to serve subscribers - give out and receive books, provide service in the reading room, participate in the making exhibition boards, prepare literary saloons and presentations of new books. Library volunteers are special people. They do not just give out books, they know all new publications and are able to suggest a reader the book he needs. Volunteers know practically every book of the multi-thousand library collection.

We would like to commemorate people who are no longer with us. One of the first volunteers was Irena Pavlovna Krichevskaya, a physiologist, Candidate of Medicine, teacher at the Medical University. Irena Pavlovna was at the beginning of the volunteering work at the library, she made library catalogs, gave out books to readers, made presentations of new publications. We remember Lyubov Alexandrovna Polumiskova, who created a video collection catalog. We remember Abram Mikhailovich Finkel, who accurately bound our periodicals at the age of 90 years old!

Currently, in the head office of the Republican Jewish Library, Almaty branch, there are eleven volunteers. Every day, more than twenty readers visit our reading room. Svetlana Ivanovna Nezhinskaya and Lyubov Yakovlevna Koretskaya are the most loved volunteers by our readers. Svetlana Ivanovana is a professional journalist. She always tells our readers about new books, recommends interesting publications. Our readers take her well grounded recommendations with great attention. Lyubov Yakovlevna, who used to work as a teacher of Russian language and literature also enjoys great popularity with the readers. Svetlana Ivanovna and Lyubov Yakovlevna regularly conduct "literary saloons". It takes a lot of knowledge, intelligence and presentation skills to organize these events. At the literary saloons, readers are introduced to new publications, bestsellers. These events attract many literature lovers and are always a great success. Svetlana Nezhinskaya and Lyubov Koretskaya have rare skills of arousing interest in the audience and provoking discussions. This is a part of their outstanding work.

There is always a lot of work in the library. Volunteers never rest. Emiliya Slivko and Lyudmila Tokar organize meetings with literature professionals, Galina Shaveleva and Evginiya Genkina hold accountable library "debtors". Olga Ryzhova, Lyubov Aron, Liliya Shparberg work in the reading room. Arkadiy Plotkin binds magazines and newspapers. Semen Blyaher restores damaged books. One more activity done by volunteers are discussions on different topics such as Jewish cuisine, humor, culture, history and arts. Thanks to all our volunteers who use their time and effort, and warmth of their sole to contribute to our common work.

We would also like to invite new young readers to our library. All readers and volunteers are welcome to our library. We will be pleased if you join our team.

Jewish Library Director Galina Korobkina