"The Centralized Library System of Semey" KMG
"The Centralized Library System of Semey" KMG /hereinafter - CLS/ is one of the cultural and informational centers of the city of Semey and constantly expands its informational scope.
According to documents, as indicated in the decision of the Executive Committee of the City Council of Workers' Deputies No. 5-83 dated March 12, 1976, regarding the "Centralization of the network of state public libraries in Semey," in 1976, there were 30 state stationary public libraries and 70 mobile libraries operating in the territory of Semey.
There was 1 public library for every 900 residents, and 30% of the population was served by mobile libraries.
The total book stock of all public libraries amounted to 627,217 copies. On average, there were 10 books per reader and 2.2 books per resident.
However, the library networks did not fully satisfy the public's needs for books and the quality of service to readers due to the division and isolation of libraries.
Therefore, in order to improve library services in the city, the Executive Committee of the City Council of Workers' Deputies made a decision in accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union dated May 8, 1974, on "Increasing the role of libraries in the communist education of workers and scientific and technical progress," and started to centralize public libraries by merging them and creating a central library with a single book stock, staffing schedule, and budget starting from March 1, 1976.
The libraries No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, the scientific library, and children's libraries No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, totaling 30 city libraries, were merged to form the Centralized Library System of Semey. In 1995, 13 more rural libraries from the New Semey district were added to the CLS.
During the optimization period (1993-1996), 26 libraries were closed in the city system, including all children's and 12 rural libraries. The book stocks of the closed libraries were distributed free of charge to city and rural school libraries, children's homes, and military units.
The revival of city public libraries began in the 2000s. In 2003, the Children's and Youth Library was established, in 2004 a library branch in the Cement village, and from 2012, library branches in the Mirny and Zholaman villages started operating, with a library branch in the Eastern village opening in 2014 and a library branch in the Shakaman village in 2022.
Currently, the CLS consists of 11 libraries, including 9 libraries in Semey, 1 library branch in Shulbi village, and 1 library branch in Shakaman village.
The CLS libraries are located at the following addresses:
City Central Library, 105 Academician Pavlov Street
Library Branch No. 2, 34 Sorokin Street
Library Branch No. 6, 147 Trusov Street
Library Branch No. 12, 22 Auezov Avenue
Children's and Youth Branch, 20/22 Uranhaev Street
Library Branch in Cement village, 17 Stakhanov Street
Library Branch in Shulbi village, 14 Microdistrict 1
Library Branch in Mirny village, 164 Satpaev Street
Library Branch in Eastern village, 30/1 Tselinnaya Street
Library Branch in Zholaman village, 3 Kabelny Alley
Library Branch in Shakaman village, 56 Central Street
The CLS implements social, cultural, and informational services and works in the following areas: promoting the annual Address of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and government documentation, implementing language policy in Kazakhstan, and providing patriotic, ecological, spiritual-moral, and legal education to youth.
The main performance indicators by the end of 2025 are: number of readers - 26,546, number of books issued - 509,750, number of readers' visits - 317,572.
The library stock consists of 354,893 copies, including 64,266 copies of literature in the state language.
In accordance with modern requirements for the humanization and informatization of libraries, all 11 libraries of the CLS have been connected to unlimited Internet with a speed of 10 Mbps, and all libraries have WiFi.
Currently, there are a total of 32 computers in use across the CLS, all connected to the Internet via a local network, with 4 computers available for users to access the Internet. Additionally, there is 1 A3+ planetary book scanner, 3 scanners, 13 printers, and 16 multifunction devices (MFDs).
The electronic catalog is being systematically updated, with a total of 415,210 bibliographic records entered into the electronic catalog from 2009 to 2025, of which 177,286 are in the Kazakh language.
Moreover, traditional bibliographic references are being fulfilled, and since 2013, the electronic document delivery service has been implemented in the CLS. Systematic work is being carried out in the CLS libraries to digitize the library stock.
In addition, the CLS actively operates 18 clubs and 10 circles aimed at organizing children's leisure and developing their creative abilities, bringing together people of all ages.
In the era of modern technology, a website has been created to provide comprehensive information to readers about the library's activities.
Social media accounts have been opened to keep users of social networks informed about the latest news in the library: Instagram /8719 subscribers/, Facebook /4985 subscribers/, Youtube /4593 subscribers/, Vkontakte /666 subscribers/, TikTok /1044 subscribers/
No Library Name Social Media Links
1. City
Central Library okjsemeykitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/okjsemeykitaphana?igsh=MTBuMHM3eTVzZHIzbA==
okjsemey
https://www.facebook.com/share/1C1VFU3NMp/
@tsemey
vk.com/tsemey
cbssemeybook
https://www.tiktok.com/@cbssemeybook?_r=1&_t=ZS-93OU3FSrPVZ
okjsemeykitaphana
https://youtube.com/@okjsemeykitaphana?si=SyTYZOJ5qB1eogpQ
2. Library Branch No. 2 2kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/2kitaphana?igsh=MWt0dnZtMHZwM2E1Ng==
3. Library Branch No. 6 6_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/6_kitaphana?igsh=OXNiY3Q3aXc1bXZ2
4. Library Branch No. 12 kitaphana12semey
https://www.instagram.com/kitaphana12semey?igsh=a3pxY3Q2NHVxaDFj
5. Children's and Youth Library bjk_semey
https://www.instagram.com/bjk_semey?igsh=MXN2czgzNDJ3dGttYg==
6. Library Branch in Cement village cementkentindegi_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/cementkentindegi_kitaphana?igsh=MWY5dWVqMWE0ZjduMQ==
7. Library Branch in Mirny village mirnyi_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/mirnyi_kitaphana?igsh=MTN6dHg2MGowM3NsbA==
8. Library Branch in Shulbi village shulbikentindegi_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/shulbikentindegi_kitaphana?igsh=NHR2c293czlnaHh2
9. Library Branch in Eastern village shygys_kentindegi_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/shygys_kentindegi_kitaphana?igsh=NGY3emg1OGFzcG5n
10. Library Branch in Zholaman village zholaman_kentindegi_kitaphana
https://www.instagram.com/zholaman_kentindegi_kitaphana?igsh=N3R1YjUwbjExNTl2
11. Library Branch in Shakaman village kitaphana_shakaman
https://www.instagram.com/kitaphana_shakaman?igsh=MjZiaG5xaHJ4N2Fk
The CLS libraries maintain regular contact with media representatives. For example, in 2025, 41 articles were published in periodicals, and CLS employees participated in local television programs 15 times. 80 pieces of information were posted on the city mayor's website.
The CLS libraries organize and conduct various offline and online events in terms of format and style. The CLS libraries have established close ties with various educational institutions in the city, including schools, colleges, and universities, and business cooperation is well established.
Regarding the events held by the CLS libraries to promote literature and increase interest in reading, the 180th anniversary of the great figure of Kazakh literature, one of the most important representatives of the culture and history of the Kazakh people, Abai Kunanbayev, was widely celebrated in 2025.
On the occasion of the anniversary, with the support of the Department of Culture and Language Development of Semey city, a poetry battle titled "If you seek the precious word, read Abai without hesitation" and a literary quiz titled "The one who leaves behind words that do not die" were organized at the City Central Library.
Additionally, the Children's and Youth Library, in collaboration with the Abai Regional Children's Library of Karaganda, held an online meeting evening titled "The Giant of World Thought." Furthermore, Library Branch No. 12 will host an "ABAI Live - Let's Read Abai Together!" event in the M. Auezov Square for city residents and guests, while the staff of the City Central Library will organize "The Sage of the Kazakh Land" Abai Fest in the Arbat Square.
The CLS team accepted the challenge "If you love singing, love it like me," sent by the centralized library system of the city of Zhezkazgan in the Ulytau region, dedicated to the great poet, and sent it to our colleagues at the "Centralized Library System named after Oralhan Bokey" of the East Kazakhstan region, Ust-Kamenogorsk city.
Within the framework of the National Book Day, during the "The World of Interesting Books Invites" BookVibe event, the results of the internet competition "Reading Marathon," organized with the support of the Department of Culture and Language Development of Semey city, were announced, and the winners were awarded. A total of 585 works were submitted to the competition from various regions of our republic, and participants showed great activity.
On the occasion of the Nauryz holiday, the "Nurture the Great Day of the People" event was celebrated. During the event, the youth organized the "Reunion" performance, the "Baursak Day" master class, and the "Ertis Waves" ensemble presented festive songs.
As part of the "National Sentiment" nationwide project, a flash mob of national costumes titled "Ethno-fashion" was organized at Library Branch No. 12.
By the decree of the head of state, 2025 was declared "The Year of Working Professions," and during this year, to appreciate the work of hardworking citizens and enhance the prestige of labor, a relevant dialogue titled "Honest Labor - Honest Income" was held at the Children's and Youth Library with the participation of A.V. Aitmuqash, the chairman of the Abai regional branch of the "Respublica" party, young entrepreneur-designer A.S. Sovetova, young entrepreneur A.S. Serikqazy, etc. An event titled "In-Demand Professions in the Labor Market" was held at the City Central Library as part of MamandyqFest.
In the direction of comprehensive support for youth, instilling patriotic spirit and moral values, the Children's and Youth Library held a non-stop event titled "Hope for the Future, Trust in Youth" with the participation of employees from the Military Police Department of the Abai regional garrison, and a legal competition on the topic "Youth's Perspective on Human Rights" with the participation of police inspector E.B. Stambekov and psychologist N.A. Shukimbaeva from the Central Police Department's juvenile affairs group.
Additionally, at the Children's and Youth Library, a round table titled "Together for a World Without Violence!" was held on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with the participation of regional deputy E. A. Soltabayeva, regional representative for children's rights in Abai region, A.E. Sultanbekova, a specialist from the Center for Support of Victims of Domestic Violence in Semey city, police major A.K. Kabdylkakova, and psychologists A.M. Musabekova and A.A. Aldabergenova from the No. 7 clinic.
In the future, the CLS plans to implement various actions and projects such as "Unlimited Library" (a program for children requiring special care), "Reading is Fashionable" (biblioparty-bibliosummer project), "Reading Alley" (project), "Summer Gatherings on the Shore" (action "Summer Gatherings on the Embankment"), "Book - the National Treasure" (bookcrossing), and others.
Moreover, events such as "Looking for a Reading Friend..." reading stop, "Dombra - a Precious Heritage" open-air dombyra, "The World of Abai - the World of Wisdom" Abai Fest, "The Character of the Book I Read" defile evening, "Thank You, Librarian!" congratulatory letters corner, "Welcome, New Year!" baby show, and others will be organized.