The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania is celebrating its 105th anniversary and is organizing an international conference titled “Memory Institutions and the State: Connecting History, Understanding the Present, and Building a Future”. This event, organized by the Statehood Centre of the National Library of Lithuania, aims to explore the dynamic relationship between memory institutions, the nation, and the state from various historical and other perspectives.

Memory institutions, such as libraries, archives, museums, and public galleries, play a crucial role in documenting and preserving cultural heritage and shaping collective memory. As custodians of society’s historical and cultural narratives, these institutions often find themselves at the crossroads of state policies, societal needs, and technological advancements. The relationship between memory institutions and the state raises fundamental questions about governance, access, representation, and preservation.

The keynote speaker will be Prof. Dr. Michael Bernhard (University of Florida).

The conference will feature 11 sessions, each addressing important issues related to memory institutions, historical memory, and their role in society.

The full conference program can be found here.

Conference venue: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Gediminas Ave. 51, Vilnius. Conference Hall, 5th floor, and the Statehood Centre, 2nd floor.

Language: English.

The conference will be livestreamed on the National Library’s YouTube channel.

More information about the conference, speakers, presentations, and program can be found on the dedicated conference website: https://konferencijos.lnb.lt/lnb105/

If you plan to attend the conference in person, we invite you to register (you can select Lithuanian or English at the top): https://forms.office.com/e/t6EbDwaRvp

Organizers: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

Partners: Klaipėda County Ieva Simonaitytė Public Library, Lithuanian Research Center, Memory and Justice Research Center at Mykolas Romeris University, NGO “The Platform of European Memory and Conscience” Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw.

Sponsor: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania

For any questions, please contact the Statehood Centre via email: valstybingumocentras@lnb.lt