Monday May 4 - Tbilisi

Monday, May 4. In the morning we are contacted by Teimuraz Chkhenkeli of the National Library, who escorts us the "Techinformi", the Georgian Research Institute for Scientific and Technical Information. This organization is already operating in many respects as the parliamentary library, and has been for about three years. I do not have a packet for them (since a visit to this organization was not planned) but Dr. Levner run through an abbreviated version of my presentation and we agree that they will get copies of the documentation from the National Library.

After this meeting, Tiemuraz takes us to the University Library. This library made the greatest impression on me of all those visited (although the proposed new building for the Belarus National library was the most amazing--but it has yet to be built). This building is over 240,000 square meters, which is huge. It is located above the center of the city with a delightful view, but remote from the bulk of the students. A shuttle bus service that was established was canceled once the price of gasoline began to climb (it is now 16 rubles per liter here). There were huge areas of empty space in the building—one completely empty room could have easily housed several tennis courts. There was no explanation for this supplied, but the distance from the students means that for the time being, the facility is almost completely unused (we visited several enormous reading rooms--by far the largest I saw in the FSU--with no students in them).

This was a relatively quick visit--we proceed to third visit of the day at the Academy of Sciences Library. We have a warm reception here because the staff are friendly with Dr. Levner. The director here (as the directors have at all the Academy of Sciences libraries) complains bitterly about the absence of hard currency for serial subscriptions. He notes that Mezhkniga actually offered to subscribe in rubles, but that the cost would have been more than 13 million rubles. Even exchange is becoming almost prohibitively expensive--he estimates that it will cost two million rubles for his library in 1992 (including materials purchased for partners and postage). The director gives us a tour of his relatively new building. Unfortunately it has suffered significant earthquake damage. Large windows above the main reading room shattered, and are impossible to replace (at least for the time being) so the reading room is closed. Also, large slabs of marble in various locations simply fell of the walls (fortunately missing the fleeing staff).

We return to the hotel on foot, accompanied by Guram, who is a close friend of Dr. Levner. After a brief rest period, we walk down Rustaveli Avenue. The area in the center of town again amazes us--the level of destruction is quite complete, with about six building completely burnt out. Reconstruction has already begun.