The First National Hackathon for Young Librarians Held in Almaty

In honor of National Library Day, the first national library hackathon was held in Almaty. The event took place at the Alatau Creative Hub and brought together young librarians from across Kazakhstan. Organized by Almaty city libraries, the event was supported by the city administration, the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Gylym Ordasy (House of Science).

Librarians from Almaty, considered leaders in modernizing the library sector in Kazakhstan, began sharing their experiences and knowledge with colleagues from other regions. The hackathon became an important platform for experience exchange, discussion of new service models, and consideration of the integration of digital technologies into the library sphere.

Today, Almaty leads in the modernization of libraries. The city features 24/7 libraries, autonomous libraries, RFID systems, and digital reading rooms. These initiatives have been highly praised by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who encouraged other regional governors to adopt the capital’s advanced practices.

Hackathon participants presented projects and ideas aimed at developing the library field. With support from the Almaty city administration, young professionals from Almaty have completed international internships in countries such as South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden, where they studied best practices and ways to adapt them to local conditions.

“The library hackathon held today was at a high level. Specialists from all over the country presented amazing ideas and fresh perspectives. We were inspired by our colleagues’ projects and gladly shared our own experience,” said Gulbakyt Duisen, a librarian from the village of Birlik in the West Kazakhstan region and a hackathon participant.

This first hackathon was not only an important step in the professional development of young librarians, but also a vivid demonstration of Kazakhstan’s libraries striving for modernization, innovation, and strengthening their role in the country’s cultural and educational life.

It is worth noting that today there are nearly 30 libraries under the Almaty city administration, 95% of which have undergone full modernization and have updated their material and technical resources. These libraries are now equipped not only to meet modern standards but also to offer innovative service formats to readers. Notably, Almaty libraries register over 3 million visits annually.