First International Bibliological Conference was organized in 1998 and was dedicated to the memory of Nina Vatatsi (1908–1997), great Belarusian bibliographer.

In the introduction to the collection of conference materials Galina Oleinik (director of the National Library of Belarus from 1990 to 2002) has wrote that as a scientific and methodical center in the field of library science and bibliology, the National Library of Belarus conducts research in the field of book history, bibliography, and library science. This conference provides an opportunity for specialists from various library industries to meet: librarians, archivists, museum specialists, and researchers to discuss a wide range of issues. The program includes reports on the theoretical problems of bibliology, on individual collections, unique editions, discoveries.

It is very gratifying that the traditions continue, the bibliological conference develops and unite the book researchers from different countries. Over the years, it has become one of the most important events in the scientific life of the country.

Researchers from Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Russia took part in the First International Bibliological Conference. Presentations were made by real masters of Belarusian bibliology: Adam Maldis, Tatyana Roshchina, Galina Kireeva, Lora Dovnar, Valery Gerasimov, Tamara Samoylyuk, Elena Titovets, Lyudmila Stankevich, Lyudmila Silnova, Svetlana Leontyeva and others. Famous scientists were guests: Zoya Yaroshevich-Pereslavtsev and Hanna Laskazhevskaya from Poland, Arvydas Paskevicius from Lithuania, Yury Labyntsev and Larisa Schavinskaya from Russia.

The conference was chaired by Yury Labyntsev (then director of the Center for Belarusian Studies at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, D. Litt.), Lyudmila Kiryukhina (then deputy director of the NLB), Tatyana Roshchina (then head of the department of manuscripts, rare and old printed books of the NLB).

An engraving from the Venetian palaeotype of 1505 from the collections of the National Library of Belarus was used for creation of the conference logo and the cover of the collection of materials.

On April 4–5 the anniversary 25th International Bibliological Conference which will bring together both doctors, candidates of science and young researchers will be held. It is predicted that more than half of the participants in the First International Bibliological Conference will gather this year at the National Library of Belarus.

The article is provided by the Bibliology Research  Department.