IGU Celebrates the 62nd Library Week: The Doors to Knowledge Keep Opening

Library Week, celebrated every year during the last week of March, was observed for the 62nd time this year under the theme “Libraries That Heal, Libraries That Grow”. Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) marked this special week with a range of events, once again underscoring the importance of access to knowledge.

IGU’s Most Avid Student Readers Recognized

As part of the week's program, students who borrowed the highest number of books from the library throughout 2025 were presented with awards by IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin. Prof. Şahin also spent time in conversation with the students, wishing them continued academic success.

From a Small Library to a Vast Knowledge Center

IGU Library and Documentation Department Head A. Şenol Armağan noted that the university’s library infrastructure has undergone remarkable growth since its founding in 2008. Starting out with 5,500 resources, the library has today transformed into a vast knowledge hub comprising 1 central and 4 branch libraries, with over 192,000 print books, more than 4.5 million e-books, over 6 million electronic theses, 31 subscribed databases, more than 90,000 periodicals, and millions of articles. Drawing attention to the importance of resource diversity over sheer numerical size, Armağan stated that IGU’s libraries are becoming richer and more varied in content with each passing year, and noted that this supports the "research university" vision frequently articulated by IGU Rector Prof. Şahin.

Online Events Making Access to Knowledge Easier

Library Department Head Armağan provided information about the online events to be held throughout the week.

On Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 8:00 p.m., an event titled “Introduction to Library Services and Q&A with Users” will be held via Google Meet. The session will cover topics ranging from catalog search systems and databases to thesis research and plagiarism tools, with participants' questions answered. The event is open to all.

Following this, on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 8:00 p.m., a second online event titled “Library Conferences 25: The Power of Reading, To Know or Not to Know” will take place, with Asst. Prof. Ali Şeylan from Istanbul Beykent University as the speaker.

The Power of Reading to Be Explored at Conference

The online event will examine the theme “The Power of Reading: To Know or Not to Know”, exploring the contributions of reading to individual and societal development from an academic perspective and sharing important insights with participants.

A Strong Contribution to the Research University Vision

All of these events, together with the continuously evolving library infrastructure, are among the key elements supporting Istanbul Gelisim University's “research university” vision. With their rich variety of resources and user-focused service approach, IGU's libraries continue to contribute to academic achievement.