SHAH ALAM, Aug 24 — The Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan to expand collaboration in sharing ideas, knowledge and experience.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the smart partnership will focus on areas such as digital literacy, information resource management, library community capacity building, and the exchange of reference collections.
"The Kazakhstan Embassy in Malaysia will also play an important role in realising cross-cultural and educational programmes, as well as efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of libraries," he said in a post on X today.
Amirudin said this after witnessing the MoU signing as part of his working visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The meeting with the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan was led by Kazakhstan Culture and Information Ministry's Archives, Documentation and Book Affairs Committee chairman Rustam Ali.
Amirudin said during the meeting, Selangor shared its efforts under the Darul Ehsan Book Institute (IBDE), which has been actively translating the works of Islamic scholars.
He said the state is considering translating works by the renowned Kazakh-born philosopher Al-Farabi in the future.
"In addition, PPAS presented on early literacy development through its organisation of the Children’s Book Fair as a platform to promote a reading culture from a young age."
Amirudin said during his visit to Kazakhstan's national library, he was also captivated by their unique collection, including a thumb-sized Quran.
"As one of the city’s oldest centres of learning, the library serves not only as a repository of knowledge, but also as a community hub, a guardian of heritage, and a centre for digital literacy.
"Through this collaboration, we are not only safeguarding knowledge but also working together to share it with the world."
