The Press Museum in Georgia’s National Library of the Parliament opened its doors in 2022. The Department of the National Bibliographic Archive Fund of Georgia served as the foundation for its creation. It is important to remember that the National Library’s function as a museum space started considerably earlier. For instance, the Book Museum, housed in the library’s initial building, receives a lot of tourists and is mentioned in travel books.
The Press Museum’s distinct opening was dictated by the rich legacy that is kept in the National Library’s national periodicals, which include newspapers and magazines, in addition to the uniqueness of this particular publishing type. The Tbilisi Public Library Fund, which was established at the Crown Prince’s Chancellery, laid the groundwork for this most comprehensive collection of Georgian periodicals. The Society for the Promotion of Literacy among Georgians’ book depository later reinforced this foundation.
The museum wants to educate the public about the stages of Georgian journalism’s evolution. This history is eloquent and fascinating.
Numerous distinctive monuments of Georgian printed material are preserved as cultural heritage by the National Library’s funding. Presenting them to the public and highlighting their historical and cultural significance is crucial so that everyone, whether they are our fellow citizens or foreign visitors, can appreciate what a treasure we have.
A chronological-thematic basis was used in the selection of the magazines and newspapers displayed in the hall, exhibition cabinets, and stands. The first Georgian newspaper, the first Georgian magazine, and periodicals from the first half of the 19th century are among the exhibits that pique the curiosity of museum visitors. These are followed chronologically by publications that are particularly valuable for a particular era.
Visitors to the museum range in age and demographic, including tourists, students, and schools. The direction of the guide’s speech is highly significant in this regard. When it comes to students, the focus is redirected to the uniqueness of journals and their significance in the social development process.
It is crucial to demonstrate the history of Georgian print media to foreign visitors who are unfamiliar with Georgian history and culture. This includes highlighting the earliest Georgian periodicals, such as the newspaper “Sakartvolos Gazeti,” which was the first newspaper published in Georgia and the entire Caucasus.
The majority of our fellow citizens who visited the museum had either heard of or read about Georgian newspapers and periodicals. They can observe firsthand examples of the ancient Georgian press in the museum and learn a lot of fascinating anecdotes about various publications.
The trend of speakers from other higher education institutions occasionally giving lectures to journalism faculty students directly in the Press Museum is another indication of the press’s educational role. Future journalists undergoing professional training should be aware that their work is not restricted to a single period or location, but will be objectively assessed over time. The caliber of this assessment will be primarily determined by how diligent they are in their chosen field.
Periodicals are intimate records that capture the culture of their day. The establishment or closure of each of them has a unique history that is mostly influenced by the political and economic climate of the nation. Without considering historical facts, it is impossible to comprehend the significance of a specific magazine or newspaper. Thus, visitors can also utilize the Press Museum’s displays as a sort of history guide for Georgia.
