KBSU Library: Digital Transformation and a Lively Atmosphere

The Kabardino-Balkarian Pravda newspaper published an interview with KBSU Library director Aymani Gerieva about professional challenges, family traditions, and the future of university libraries.

The article, prepared by KBP correspondent Viktor Shekemov, explores not only the achievements of one of the university’s key structural units but also the life of its director.

The KBSU Library is rightfully considered one of the best in the region and is among the leading university libraries in Russia. Its staff includes 44 specialists, and its integrated collection exceeds 3 million items. Today, the library is actively transitioning to digital: a significant portion of its resources are available electronically, including rare archives, dissertation databases, and analytical collections.

The personality of its director, Aymani Gerieva, is behind this development. She is the maternal granddaughter of the great Balkar poet and educator Kyazim Mechiev. A love of books and knowledge was instilled in her by her family from childhood.

«I don’t know if a love of books is hereditary, but I’m sure it comes from my family. I’ve always loved the atmosphere of libraries; I can’t pass by books, although I never imagined that it would become my main occupation. And I truly believe that a book is the best gift,» Aymani shares.
Her professional career at KBSU began in 2002. She holds two higher education degrees (in the university’s mathematics and economics departments) and has steadily risen from librarian to director, a position she has held since October 2022.

Aymani Gerieva sees modern librarians as «navigators in a sea of ​​information.» Under her leadership, the library is introducing electronic resources and creating comfortable intellectual and leisure areas for students and faculty.

«I want our visitors to come, feel this atmosphere, and not want to leave. Or to want to come back again the next morning,» says the director.
Aimani Gerieva’s main dream is to harmoniously combine high technology with the preservation of a special spiritual and cultural atmosphere, ensuring that the library remains an attractive space for readers of all generations.

The interview also touches on important topics: raising children with a spirit of respect for knowledge, the role of the university as a center of education in the modern world, and the library’s mission in the era of digital transformation.

Read the full article in the Kabardino-Balkarian Pravda newspaper, issue No. 29 (26044), March 11, 2026: https://smikbr.ru/arhiv/2026/kbp/03/11.pdf