Valiño delivers the opening remarks of the activity.
Photo taken from Prensa Latina

Havana, June 7 (RHC)-- Cuban personalities and institutions with meritorious work in the field of librarianship were awarded this Wednesday, on the occasion of its anniversary.

The José Martí National Library (BNJM), in Havana, hosted the evening presided over by the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso, members of the diplomatic corps of the Russian Federation, Mexico and Azerbaijan, among others.

After the opening remarks of the entity's director, Omar Valiño, the director of the National Library of Mexico, Pablo Mora, extended virtual congratulations to Cuba's library community on its day.

As every year, the Cuban Association of Librarians recognized the work of several of its professionals with the Annual Awards, while the Cuban Society of Information Sciences stimulated the work of its members with the 'José Luis Rojas 2023' Award.

The 'Emilio Setién Quesada' National Library Science Awards 2023 and the 'Antonio Bachiller y Morales' Commemorative Seal, the highest distinction awarded to experts in the sector with an outstanding and sustained trajectory, were also presented.

​

Image taken from RHC

At the meeting, the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Cuba, Viktor Koronelli, presented an award to the BNJM.

The institution was also awarded by the Cuban Association of the United Nations.

The National Union of Cultural Workers joined these celebrations and encouraged with the 'Raúl Gómez García' Distinction to several professionals who remained in this field for more than 20 and 25 years.

In this context, a letter of intent was signed between the BNJM and the Department of Information Sciences of the Faculty of Communication of the University of Havana, to develop a professional cooperation program between both institutions.