NU Library Newsletter
Fall Semester, September 2025
Programs, Events & Highlights
This Month’s Open Library Sessions
Join the Open Library Sessions this month to explore the NU Repository, research-related topics, and more. If your study schedule conflicts, you can book an appointment or meet Darya and Venera at the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5E, 324) or Aigerim at NUSOM (Floor 7, Office 702).
Explore Upcoming Events
Join the webinars to enhance your research and attend upcoming events, all available on our LibCal.
Join the final webinars to enhance your research skills with an Elsevier representative.
Come and discover the winners of the Challenge soon!
Book Exhibition: Stories That Make Us Stronger
As part of the university-wide mental health campaign, the NU Library organised Stories That Make Us Stronger book exhibitions at the Main and NUSOM Libraries, highlighting literature’s power to heal, inspire, and give hope. You can explore the books from these exhibitions in the digital collection at the link.
Celebrating Literary Legends
Let’s take a moment to celebrate the amazing authors born in September whose powerful words have inspired the world!
Recent Library Events
Explore the highlights of NU Library events that united our university community with the global library network, fostering knowledge, collaboration, and shared growth.
On 23-24 August 2025, the NU Library proudly hosted the 39th IFLAPARL Satellite Meeting in Astana, bringing together 70+ participants from 30 countries to explore collaboration, innovation, and the future of parliamentary libraries and research services.
On September 11, 2025, NU Library hosted a discussion Stories That Make Us Stronger as part of the university-wide campaign to raise awareness about mental health. The discussion united NU’s readers in reflecting on literature as a source of resilience and strength.
On September 12, 2025, the NU Library and GSE hosted a presentation of Autoethnographic Explorations of Lived Raciolinguistic Experiences Among Multilingual Scholars, edited by Qianqian Zhang-Wu and Prof. Bridget Goodman.
NU Librarians Making an Impact
From international conferences to campus training and national media, NU Librarians continue to share their expertise.
At the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2025 in Astana, NU Library colleagues presented on sustainable practices and the vital role of librarians in driving research and national progress, showcasing our impact beyond the shelves.
From September 2 to 12, the second cohort of learners completed the course Academic Publishing Support and Research Integrity, a five-module program by NU Librarians designed for NURA to strengthen skills in research dissemination, ethical publishing, and journal evaluation, which will be offered again in November.
TengriNews published a story on the employment challenges faced by people with disabilities in Kazakhstan. Ziyat Abdykaimov, NU Library staff member, was quoted as an expert, stressing that despite quotas and programs, systemic barriers and stereotypes still hinder access to meaningful employment.
Research & Academic Support
Research Support
The NU Library continues to provide personalized, one-to-one research support to help you succeed academically, whether you’re planning your thesis or an article for publication. Our librarians are here to publish, evaluate, and reserve your research.
Visit the Research Support Office in the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 323) to meet Yelizaveta, Lazzat, or Ainash, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Ask our virtual librarian NURIA, book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Visit the Research Support Office in the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 323) to meet Yelizaveta, Lazzat, or Ainash, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Ask our virtual librarian NURIA, book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Boost your research
Explore our online resources and utilize our support services.
This is a reminder that Nazarbayev University Library provides trial access to Bentham Science Publishers, offering journals and eBooks in pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, engineering, and medical research, available until November 30, 2025.
We are delighted to announce the launch of the first issue of the Journal of Eurasian Insights, a student-led, English-language academic journal showcasing undergraduate research on Eurasian history, politics, society, and culture, now available in the NU Repository.
Access to Online Resources
All NU community members have 24/7 access to world-class online resources through Primo Discovery and the A–Z List, including databases, journals, eBooks, and videos from leading academic publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, Cambridge, Oxford, and more.
Engagement & Interaction
Dear NURIA...
Looking for some advice? Ask and NURIA will try to respond! Send your questions via email to library@nu.edu.kz (Subject: Dear NURIA). The library will publish at least one question per month, and here is one of them.
- Dear NURIA,
I find it challenging to use academic English in my research projects. Even in school, I had difficulties with the language, particularly with using appropriate collocations in certain contexts. My current English skills are not strong enough for some university tasks. Could you recommend resources to help me improve my academic command of the language so I can write essays more professionally, especially for my Rhetoric class?
Best regards,
Assel - Dear Assel,
Academic writing takes time and practice, but you can improve quickly by using helpful phrases and examples from this LibGuide. Choose the ones that work for you and apply them in your projects.
With consistency, your writing will become clearer and more confident. If you need extra support, the Library team is here to guide you.
Beyond books,
NURIA
Library Interview
It’s possible to balance textbook reading with your favourite fiction!
Check out book recommendations from our colleagues and read the interview with Nursultan Abdrakhimov, Manager at the Patron Services Office.
Would you like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve recently read? Submit a short book review for inclusion in our upcoming Library Newsletter!
Send your review to library@nu.edu.kz (subject: Book Review for the Library Newsletter).
Check out book recommendations from our colleagues and read the interview with Nursultan Abdrakhimov, Manager at the Patron Services Office.
Would you like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve recently read? Submit a short book review for inclusion in our upcoming Library Newsletter!
Send your review to library@nu.edu.kz (subject: Book Review for the Library Newsletter).
On my bedside table, I mostly have books that help me fall asleep quickly, like The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, or something from science fiction. They’re comforting and familiar, which makes them perfect for winding down before bed.
My favourite literary character is Ebenezer Scrooge. He shows us the power of change and redemption, proving that it's never too late to become a better version of ourselves. His transformation from a miserly old man to a kind-hearted one is truly inspiring.
This year, it’s definitely been the works of the Brontë sisters - Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Their ability to capture raw emotion and the complexities of human nature makes these books timeless and compelling. The deep psychological depth in their characters is something that stays with you long after reading.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It taught me that pursuing your personal legend and following your dreams is what truly matters. The journey itself is the most important part, not necessarily the destination.
The first book I remember reading was Alpamys, the Kazakh epic. I read it in second grade, and I remember being captivated by the hero’s courage and the vastness of the story. It felt like a grand adventure full of lessons about honor and resilience.
I rarely stop reading a book halfway through, even if it doesn't immediately grab me. I believe there's always something to learn from a book, even if it’s not what you expected. I prefer to finish it and give it a chance to grow on me.
If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d probably bring something practical like The SAS Survival Handbook. It's packed with crucial knowledge for surviving in the wild, including how to find food, build shelter, navigate, and deal with all sorts of challenges. Hopefully, I wouldn't need to use it, but it would be my best bet!
Tips & Announcements
Did you know that ...
You can explore our video guides to learn how to renew books, find them on the shelves, and book or use study rooms. These guides are simple, clear, and easy to follow, perfect for making the most of your time in the library.
Housekeeping
NU Library Use Policy and Patrons’ Behavior Rules
Recently, we have received complaints from patrons regarding cases of inappropriate behavior in the library. To maintain an atmosphere of respect and focused study, we kindly ask you to follow the rules outlined in the Library Use Policy.
Key Points to Remember:
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a respectful, safe, and productive study environment.
Recently, we have received complaints from patrons regarding cases of inappropriate behavior in the library. To maintain an atmosphere of respect and focused study, we kindly ask you to follow the rules outlined in the Library Use Policy.
Key Points to Remember:
- Be courteous and respectful to other patrons and library staff.
- Maintain silence; use headphones and take phone calls outside the reading rooms.
- Do not leave personal belongings unattended to reserve study spaces.
- Full meals, open drinks, chewing gum, and smoking (including vaping) are prohibited inside the library, including in stairwells, restrooms, and any interior spaces.
- Aggressive behavior, loud disputes, fighting, demonstrative public displays of affection, or religious activities are not allowed on library premises.
- All borrowed books and materials must be returned on time; otherwise, access to library services may be restricted.
- Failure to comply with the rules may result in temporary or permanent restrictions on library access in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a respectful, safe, and productive study environment.
Authors of this edition
Let's acknowledge the contributors who made this newsletter possible.
- Darya ZvonarevaHead,
Teaching and Learning Support Office - Zhuldyz OrazymbetovaHead,
Patron Services Office - Venera NiyazbayevaTeaching and Learning Librarian,
Teaching and Learning Support Office - Lazzat ArystanovaSenior Manager,
Research Support Office - Madina AbdykaimovaSenior Manager,
Patron Services Office - Dina BaiseitManager,
Patron Services Office
Visual images are sourced from canva.com and freepik.com, and the following links:
Mukhtar Auezov
Sherkhan Murtaza
Agatha Christie
Scott Fitzgerald
Steven King
Mukhtar Auezov
Sherkhan Murtaza
Agatha Christie
Scott Fitzgerald
Steven King