Date: 10.07.2018

From 4–9 June 2018, the international SIBMAS conference was held in Paris. This year’s theme ‘To Be Successful Together’ was devoted to the preservation of theatrical heritage, and the development of partnerships of various organisations in the performing arts.

The conference was organised by the SIBMAS Executive Committee and the National Library of France. It was attended by specialists working with theatre archives, museums, and libraries, as well as theatre institutes in Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Russia, and other countries.

Specialists from the Russian State Art Library (RSAL) Alexandra Orlova and Valeria Salynskaya gave presentations. In her speech ‘Collection of Unique Graphics. From Assemblage to Use’, V. Salynskaya discussed one of RSAL’s unique collections—the theatre sketches collection. She paid special attention to the principles of selecting these documents, their processing, and use in the library.

The joint report of the Chief Librarian of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Alan Jones and RSAL’s specialist Alexandra Orlova, ‘Theatrical Collections Blur Boundaries. Library Collections as a Quality Catalyst for International Knowledge Sharing’ was dedicated to the on-site exhibition activities of libraries and, in particular, to the joint projects of RSAL with other libraries and partners.

Both presentations aroused keen interest among attendees, with many questions being asked. At the end of the conference, an exchange of views on the prospects for cooperation took place.