Ankara – November 24, 2025
The 7th Meeting of the Heads of National Libraries of ECO Countries was held in Ankara from 19–21 November 2025, under the theme “Digital Transformation, Knowledge Exchange, and Capacity Building for the Future of Libraries.” Ms. Neda Moshref Javadi, Program Officer for ECO Human Resource and Sustainable Development Directorate represented the Organization at the event.
Organized by the National Library of Turkiye, the meeting brought together delegates from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the ECO Cultural Institute, who delivered presentations on digital innovation, experience sharing, and institutional capacity building.
During the sessions, the representative of the ECO Secretariat emphasized the importance of developing new frameworks for cooperation aligned with global trends in library and information science. ECO expressed its support for the establishment of specialized sub-committees aimed at strengthening technical collaboration in key areas, including digital infrastructure, preservation, and public engagement.
The Heads of National Libraries agreed to further enhance cooperation through the creation of “three technical committees” focusing on digitalization, education, and preservation. Kazakhstan also announced its willingness to host the next meeting in Almaty in 2027.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the National Libraries of Türkiye and Tajikistan was signed on the sidelines of the event to expand bilateral cooperation. The meeting concluded with the approval of the official declaration.
