On June 2–3, 2026, the III International Scientific and Methodological Conference “Amanzholov Readings – 2026” was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, dedicated to the scholarly legacy of the outstanding Turkologist, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Altay Sarsenovich Amanzholov.
The organizers of this international scientific forum were the Research Institute of Turkology and Altaic Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Al-Farabi Library, and the scientific-educational project “Era and Personality.”
The main objective of the conference was to discuss current issues in Turkological research, exchange experience in the preservation and study of manuscripts and rare books, and promote the scientific heritage of Professor Altay Amanzholov.
The conference brought together leading scholars, researchers, and young scientists from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Poland, the United States, and other countries. During the plenary session, modern trends in the development of Turkology were discussed, including issues of linguistics, cultural heritage, manuscript studies, and digitalization. New scientific publications and the results of ongoing research were also presented to the participants.
Within the framework of the conference, sectional sessions were organized on the following topics: “Turco-Slavica: The Personality of the Scholar in the Context of Problems and Debates,” “Traditions of Textuality and the Preservation of Manuscript Heritage,” and “The Library in the Era of Digitalization: Challenges and Development Prospects.”
Special attention was given to the session “The Library in the Era of Digitalization: Challenges and Development Prospects,” which was held at the Al-Farabi Library. The session was moderated by the Director of the Al-Farabi Library, Zh.A. Arekenova.
During the session, the library’s administration and staff, university scholars, and invited speakers discussed issues related to the digitalization of library services, the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, the preservation of rare books and manuscripts, the digital transformation of archival documents, the development of innovative library technologies, and the improvement of professional competencies of modern library specialists.
The Director of the Al-Farabi Library, Zhadira Arekenova, presented a report titled “The Library and Librarianship at KazNU in the Era of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence,” in which she spoke about the experience of the library’s digital transformation and its strategic development directions. Library staff also presented projects dedicated to the preservation of rare collections, restoration of book monuments, development of information services, digital reconstruction of archival documents, and the implementation of modern technologies.
On the second day of the conference, a scientific and methodological seminar was held on the topic “Folklore as a Source of Interdisciplinary Research (Literature, History, Ethnography),” which served as a platform for professional dialogue and exchange of academic experience.
The international conference “Amanzholov Readings – 2026” became a significant scientific platform for discussing current issues in Turkology, strengthening international academic cooperation, exchanging research experience, and promoting the rich scientific heritage of Altay Sarsenovich Amanzholov.
