Director of childen's Mass Library Arzu Soltan: This is the first ever Azerbaijani audio book - PHOTOS

As far as I know, the newly edited “Azerbaijani epics” is the first audiobook in Azerbaijan...

Before our audiobook “Azerbaijani epics”, was being prepared in the framework of the project, there was no audiobook in Azerbaijan targeted to mass utilization. Being the director of Mass Library named after N.Narimanov, I can say that at least in our library we never had any book prepared in audio format. We get almost all the books, published in Azerbaijan in our library. During the last few years some books we got also contain CD-s, but none of them was in audio format. So, we can call “Azerbaijani epics” first audiobook in Azerbaijan.

Why did you decide to prepare this book in audio format? Who is the author of idea?

There is a good saying: “To catch a fish a fisherman should discount not his interests, but the interests of the fish”. In the last years we have been able to observe the lowering interest of children and youth to reading books. Some people think it is caused by widely spreading of modern technologies, particularly Internet. But even in the countries, which can easily get lots of information in their native languages, people are much more interested in reading and printing book, than in Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, we try to meet the interests of the readers by preparing the books which they can not read, but listen.

The project implementer is children’s magazine “Diplomat Korpem”. The children’s magazine “Diplomat Korpem” is being published since March 2006. The magazine is being run with participation of the children for the children. The aim of this activity is to increase children’s initiatives and to achieve active participation of the children in social life. The magazine is aimed at raising awareness of the children of their rights, as well as participation of children in the solution of children’s problems.

Besides, the magazine also actively participates in the integration process of disabled children to society. In order to increase the interest of youth and teens to books and libraries, our magazine cooperates with almost all the libraries functioning in Azerbaijan. At the moment children’s magazine “Diplomat Korpem” has some difficulties and cannot be published regularly, but in spite of this we implement different projects for children and youth. The project on “Azerbaijani epics” audiobook was implemented with the sponsorship of Open Society Institute – Fund of Aid.

I should also note, that one of the most interesting and extensive genres of Azerbaijani folklore is epics. They are also the cultural basis of our country, live history of Azerbaijani people. The heroes of the epics are the examples of  bravity, strength, intellect and humanity of the nation. Every time we get back to our history, we remember some heroes of our epics, name some examples with pride and respect to our past, our history and our cultural heritage. So, we decided to start the series of books in audio format with the epics.

In what languages this book will be prepared? Are you going to make it accessible to international audience?

According to the presidential decree on “The mass publication of the books in Azerbaijani language in latin graphics” from 12 January 2004 the book “Azerbaijani epics” was published in 5 volumes and presented to the libraries. The epics, included to our audiobook were selected from the above-mentioned books. The epics were sounded by the actors of Baku Children’s Theatre in Azerbaijani language and accompanied by saz music. The copies of the audiobook are being spread to academic institutions and libraries. We are also planning to interpret our epics and other samples of our floklore into English language and introduce them to international audience. We even plan to invite professional interpreter to assist us in this work. Everything depends on financial sponsorship of our ideas.

Do you plan to continue the series books in audio format?

Actually, the preparation of the books in audio format is appreciated. And it can be not only the samples of our folklore, but also the samples of works of our classical and modern writers, samples of foreign literature and even scientific and publisistic works. Then the readers will get the choice. So that everyone could read his favourite book even being engaged in doing some other work. It can also be used in some educational institutions. Audiobooks are also appreciated by the people with eyesight problems or other disabilites. And of course we are planning to continue the series of books in audio format.

Leyla Ismailova
Today.Az

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