AGBU Papazian Library Staff Appointed to IAALA Executive Board

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YEREVAN, Armenia — In January 2024, the International Association of Armenian Librarians and Archivists (IAALA) announced its appointees to their 2024 Executive Board. Of the ten appointees, three are from the American University of Armenia’s AGBU Papazian Library. 

Library Director Laurie Alvandian will serve as IAALA director-elect (2024-25 director-elect, 2025-26 director), while Academic Support Librarian Garren Jansezian will be the Association’s editor (2024-27), and Systems and E-Services Librarian Tatevik Zargaryan will serve as webmaster (2024-27). 

Alvandian, Jansezian, and Zargaryan were nominated by IAALA members based on their record of active involvement and leadership within the Association, as well as their professional experience. Previous IAALA Director and Founding Member Levon Avdoyan of the Library of Congress (Emeritus) will step down and serve as immediate past director. His time leading the Board saw the birth of IAALA, the growth of its initial membership, and the development of its “IAALA in Focus” event series, featuring international speakers from France, Germany, the United States, Armenia, and other countries. 

As the Association moves into this next phase, its future plans include bringing greater awareness to endangered Armenian collections around the world through online events and conferences; creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development, particularly for its membership in Armenia; and launching an Association newsletter to promote its activities worldwide. Plans for collaborative events between IAALA and AUA are also currently in development.

“It’s a very exciting time to join the Executive Board of this young, evolving association,” said Alvandian. “There is a gentle yet promising reawakening happening in the Armenian library and archive world today, and IAALA is uniquely positioned to facilitate its growth. During my time on the Board, I hope to prioritize expanding membership, engaging more librarians and archivists from Armenia, leveraging IAALA’s vast network to organize innovative and exciting programming, and formulating new collaborations between the Association and institutions around the world.”

Jansezian, who joined the Library in February 2024, likewise sees great potential in the work IAALA accomplishes. “I hope to cultivate active relationships with members of the library community here in Armenia and the Diaspora,” he said. “The first organization of its kind, IAALA has the opportunity to combine the efforts of Armenian librarians and archivists to address the most critical challenges we face, such as rampant disinformation, ethical use of artificial intelligence, and taking steps toward building an informed, active citizenry.”

For her part, Zargaryan looks forward to harnessing her skillset to serve the Association. “I am eager to join the IAALA Executive Board as a webmaster, where I can bring my expertise in website design, user research, needs assessment for digital products, and understanding of information-seeking habits, thereby making meaningful contributions to the advancement of IAALA’s mission and impact on Armenian librarians and archivists.”

Within the framework of their involvement in IAALA, Alvandian and Jansezian are also holding biweekly English for Librarians classes for librarians in Armenia who wish to practice discussing topics related to library science in English. The goal is to help Armenia’s information professionals feel more confident and able to engage with librarians from around the world, greatly increasing their opportunities for professional development. The first part of the course will run from February to May and will cover topics such as literacy, access to information, social infrastructure, and community building.

IAALA was formed in 2021 and is under the umbrella of the Society for Armenian Studies. Its mission is to provide a worldwide platform for archivists and librarians working with Armenian collections to network with each other, share information and ideas and solve challenges, promote issues related to the field, encourage participation and mentorship, and uncover and map hidden collections, both physical and digital. More information about IAALA can be found at https://iaala.org/. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.