NU Library Newsletter
Fall Semester:
August 2026
Fall Semester:
August 2026
We’re excited to share the September 2026 edition of the Library Newsletter.
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. To mark this occasion, this issue commemorates the richness of languages and linguistic diversity, with a special focus on language, linguistics, and multilingual education resources available through the Library. Alongside these features, discover key library resources, services, and tools to support your studies, research, and academic journey throughout the semester.
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. To mark this occasion, this issue commemorates the richness of languages and linguistic diversity, with a special focus on language, linguistics, and multilingual education resources available through the Library. Alongside these features, discover key library resources, services, and tools to support your studies, research, and academic journey throughout the semester.
Celebrating the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan - a day that recognizes the country’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity and highlights the importance of preserving and promoting its many languages.
In celebration of this day, discover the NU Library’s selection of resources dedicated to languages, linguistics, literature, and multilingual education. Whether you are learning a new language, exploring the history of Kazakh and other languages, or interested in multilingualism and language education, our collection offers resources to support your academic and personal interests.
In celebration of this day, discover the NU Library’s selection of resources dedicated to languages, linguistics, literature, and multilingual education. Whether you are learning a new language, exploring the history of Kazakh and other languages, or interested in multilingualism and language education, our collection offers resources to support your academic and personal interests.
Book Exhibition "Languages: Connecting Cultures"
Discover the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan through our special book exhibition dedicated to the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. Featuring books on languages, literature, and cultural traditions, the exhibition celebrates diversity, multilingualism, and the power of language to connect people.
Explore the collection in the Library catalog.
Explore the collection in the Library catalog.
Library Interview
Bridget Goodman is an Associate Professor at the NU Graduate School of Education, where she coordinates the MA in Multilingual Education program and serves as the School's Library Liaison. Her research, teaching, and supervision interests focus on multilingual education, translanguaging, and language policy, with particular attention to English-medium education in Eurasia and Central Asia, the use of multiple languages in and beyond the classroom, and the intersections of language and race in Kazakhstan and beyond.
To mark the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, we asked her about multilingualism as a resource rather than a barrier in higher education.
*Interview conducted by Venera Niyazbayeva, TLSO.
To mark the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, we asked her about multilingualism as a resource rather than a barrier in higher education.
*Interview conducted by Venera Niyazbayeva, TLSO.
“It starts with teachers', staff members', and administrators' belief system. They need to be encouraged to see their own multilingualism and the multilingual backgrounds of their students as an advantage and a resource.”
A Conversation with Prof. Bridget Goodman
It starts with teachers', staff members', and administrators' belief system. They need to be encouraged to see their own multilingualism and the multilingual backgrounds of their students as an advantage and a resource. If they believe that one language, or the lack of knowledge of one language, inhibits or interferes with learning, they are likely to restrict the use of other languages for communication or learning in the classroom. Of course, some teachers have this belief but still allow their students to use other languages because they see the practical benefits of doing so. Other teachers and administrators can follow this example by not setting rules of "one language only" or "one language at a time." Instead, they can encourage comparisons across languages, host events on campus that celebrate different languages, and acknowledge and respect each individual student's language capacities as a starting point to grow from.
It's easier for me to identify exclusive policies such as "speak English" or "think in English." I'm co-authoring a paper with a friend, a former student, who told me that even saying a few words in Mandarin to her helped create an inclusive space for her. For me it was symbolic: I didn't need Mandarin to communicate, but I used it to show respect. You do not have to be fluent in a student's language to treat it inclusively. You can say a few words, or let the student teach you a few words in their preferred language, and thereby show that it is a resource for teaching and learning. An inclusive space also lets students share their diverse experiences with languages and work through them in the classroom.
As the great bilingual education scholar Ofelia García said a long time ago, it's not an "either-or" situation, it's a "both-and" situation. Students and teachers in multilingual education settings should not feel they have to choose between developing English and valuing their own language. Mother tongue knowledge can support English-language development, and knowledge developed in English can ideally be shared in local languages as well. We are finding in Kazakhstan that as students develop higher proficiency in English, they rely on mother tongues less, or are better able to see which language practices transfer across languages and which do not. This speaks to the need to encourage pedagogical practices that maintain Kazakh language and values while still supporting the current generation of students in their language learning journey.
Both Caress Shenk of NU and I have written about decolonizing the curriculum. This means including scholars from diverse backgrounds, not only those based in the U.S., the UK, and Australia. It also means designing assessments that allow or encourage the use of multiple languages, not only in the process of completing an assignment but in the product itself. I recall research at NUGSE reporting on a teacher who asked students to create a website in three languages, achieving the learning goals while contributing to development across languages for a real-world purpose.
Library Workshops & Consultations
The library regularly hosts open sessions that help students and researchers navigate the academic and research process more effectively. Topics include open access publishing, research data management, copyright and Creative Commons, reference management, scholarly communication, and the NU Repository. These sessions are open to all and aim to strengthen research skills through practical guidance and hands-on support.
Can’t make it to the library today? Ask our virtual librarian on duty, NURIA, to book a virtual appointment. Or, stop by our offices at the Main Library, 5E.322, 5E.323, or 5E.324, to speak with our Liaison and Research Support Librarians. You can also visit NU SoM, Floor 7, Office 702.
Can’t make it to the library today? Ask our virtual librarian on duty, NURIA, to book a virtual appointment. Or, stop by our offices at the Main Library, 5E.322, 5E.323, or 5E.324, to speak with our Liaison and Research Support Librarians. You can also visit NU SoM, Floor 7, Office 702.
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 support you in publishing, managing, and preserving your research outputs.
Visit the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 324) to meet our Research Support Librarians, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your research success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Visit the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 324) to meet our Research Support Librarians, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your research success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
New Trial Databases
Explore newly available trial databases at NU Library and discover additional academic resources to support your research, learning, and scholarly work. These databases provide access to valuable information across a range of subjects and disciplines.
NU Library is pleased to offer trial access to SAGE Reference & Academic Books until 30 September 2026. Explore a valuable collection of scholarly books, encyclopedias, handbooks, research monographs, course textbooks, and professional development titles, with strong coverage of the social and behavioral sciences.
Register with your @nu.edu.kz email address to unlock full access.
Don’t miss the opportunity to discover high-quality academic content and support your studies and research before the trial ends.
Register with your @nu.edu.kz email address to unlock full access.
Don’t miss the opportunity to discover high-quality academic content and support your studies and research before the trial ends.
NU Library is excited to offer pilot access to the CAS BioFinder Discovery Platform from September 14 to November 14, 2026. The platform provides comprehensive pharmaceutical and drug discovery data, including published and predicted bioactivity data, ligand–protein interactions, biomarkers, and information searchable by ligand, target, and disease.
Existing active users can access the platform directly, while new users must first create a SciFinder account.
Explore CAS BioFinder and discover tools supporting drug discovery, discovery biology, and medicinal chemistry research during the pilot period.
Existing active users can access the platform directly, while new users must first create a SciFinder account.
Explore CAS BioFinder and discover tools supporting drug discovery, discovery biology, and medicinal chemistry research during the pilot period.
Read Guides in Your Own Language
All Library Guides (LibGuides) now include a language switcher, letting readers translate any guide into Russian or Kazakh. Look for the "Select Language" menu at the top of any guide page. Because automated translation of Kazakh is still imperfect, key terminology and instructions are being manually reviewed on our most-used guides, and a short disclaimer next to the switcher explains the limits of machine translation. Most guides are written in English, so the tool is meant as a bridge for readers who prefer to start in Russian or Kazakh rather than a full replacement for the English original.
Databases, Journals, and LibGuides for Languages and Linguistics
The Library's LibGuides site has a dedicated Literature & Languages section with six guides for anyone studying language, literature, or linguistics:
- Languages, Linguistics, and Literatures: Starting Your Library Search - a general starting point for finding books, articles, and reference sources in these fields.
- Linguistics: Start Your Research With Concepts - a concept-based approach to building search strategies for linguistics topics.
- Kazakh Language, Literature and Culture
- Turkic Languages
- Mythology and Folklore
- HST 274 / WLL 274: Texts and Contexts
A New LibGuide Designed by Venera Niyazbayeva (TLSO)
In honor of the Day of Languages of the People of Kazakhstan, the library has published a new LibGuide: Same Question, Different Sources: A Guide to Multilingual Research. It walks students and researchers through comparing Kazakh, Russian, and English sources on the same topic, covering search engine and database choice by language, credibility checks for multilingual and machine-translated material, and APA 7 citation for non-Latin-script sources. A consultation session has been built around the guide, and a librarian is always ready to walk you through it individually: reach out to schedule a session whenever you need one.
The A-Z Databases & Tools list (library.nu.edu.kz) includes resources of particular interest to language and linguistics research, among them the ACL Anthology (open access papers on computational linguistics and natural language processing), the Oxford English Dictionary (now searchable through OUP's AI-assisted discovery tools), Cambridge eBooks (with a strong English language learning and teaching collection), Credo Reference (dictionaries, thesauri, and encyclopedias across languages and subjects), and JSTOR's archive of language and literature journals. The full A-Z list can be filtered by subject, including a Literature & Languages category, to browse further.
Spotlight on NU Scholarship
Another Open Access article has been published by a Master student in Public Health Alpamys Shaldarbek together with School of Medicine Professors - Dr. Joseph Almazan and Dr. Ejercito Mangawa Balay-odao in the Journal of Nursing Management - “Nurses’ Roles in Supporting Mental Health Among Preoperative Cardiac Patients in Kazakhstan”, shows how nurses help patients cope with anxiety, depression, and fear before heart surgery. The study shows that empathetic conversation, clear information sharing, and even storytelling are powerful strategies to ease distress, while cultural stigma and limited training remain challenges. Thanks to the library’s transformative agreement, the Article Processing Charges (APC) was fully covered, so that this important research is freely accessible worldwide. This is just one example of how our research support librarians can help the NU community publish openly, manage APC coverage, and increase the visibility of NU scholarship.
Library Research Support Services
Library Research Support Office helps guide our NU community through the entire research lifecycle - from searching relevant resources to refine your topic, to selecting appropriate journals for publishing, and navigating the publishing process.
Source: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1n66wf3XOArYYXPgS7JWMj9i4IQUb2PXJ/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1
Library Highlights & Events
Upcoming Events
Join us for opportunities to read, discover, discuss, and connect through books, culture, and shared ideas. There’s something for everyone - come explore, learn, and be part of our library community.
Nazarbayev University Library invites NU students, NU faculty, researchers, and staff to take part in the “Reading Nation” Republican Marathon. Participants are invited to read 15 recommended books, share their reviews, represent Nazarbayev University at the national level, and compete for cash prizes and awards.
Participation is available in Kazakh and Russian.
Materials are provided by the Public Foundation “Кітап оқитын ұлт — Читающая нация.”
Participation is available in Kazakh and Russian.
Materials are provided by the Public Foundation “Кітап оқитын ұлт — Читающая нация.”
NU Library invites the NU community to a presentation of Central Asian Textiles with co-authors Snezhanna Atanova, Assistant Professor at Nazarbayev University, and Tereza Hejzlarová, scholar at Palacký University in Olomouc. The book explores the rich textile traditions of Central Asia, featuring elaborate costumes, suzanis, ikat textiles, equestrian items, and furnishings that reflect the region’s diverse settled and nomadic cultures. Drawing on remarkable works from the Neville Kingston Collection, including previously unpublished pieces, the presentation offers a fascinating glimpse into Central Asia’s cultural heritage and everyday life along the historic Silk Road.
Join us for a literary evening exploring Jane Austen’s timeless Pride and Prejudice. Discuss its memorable characters, sharp wit, and enduring themes of love, marriage, social status, and personal growth. Whether you’re discovering the classic for the first time or revisiting it, everyone is welcome!
Light refreshments will be provided.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Recent Events
The NU Library recently hosted and participated in a range of professional development and research support activities, bringing together colleagues to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and improve library services.
NU Library Colleagues Participate in the “She Leads” Program and Share Leadership Insights
NU Library recently hosted a Professional Development Hour, bringing librarians together to explore leadership, professional growth, and the role of information specialists. The session was led by Yelizaveta Kamilova, Head of the Research Support Office; Venera Niyazbayeva, Teaching and Learning Librarian, TLSO; and Galiya Bekenova, Manager of the Patron Services Office, who recently completed Nazarbayev University’s “She Leads” Women in Leadership Programme, delivered in partnership with the UK-based Advance HE.
The program supports women in higher education by strengthening leadership skills, expanding professional networks, and providing practical tools for professional growth. Drawing on the knowledge and insights gained through their participation, the presenters explored three key areas: personal leadership and values, leadership skills and motivation, and the role of information in shaping what people notice and learn.
The program supports women in higher education by strengthening leadership skills, expanding professional networks, and providing practical tools for professional growth. Drawing on the knowledge and insights gained through their participation, the presenters explored three key areas: personal leadership and values, leadership skills and motivation, and the role of information in shaping what people notice and learn.
A Professional Development Session on Digital Accessibility
On Friday, September 11, a professional development session on digital accessibility was delivered by Ziyat Abdykaimov, Expert Manager for Assistive Technologies and Accessibility at NU Library and a member of the NU Special Learning Needs Committee. Hosted for the Marketing Office and open to all interested colleagues, the workshop covered key standards for accessible web and social media content, highlighted the responsibilities of content managers and SMM specialists, and featured a live review of accessibility issues on the main NU website alongside an open Q&A.
Same Question, Different Answers: Comparing Sources Across Languages and Platforms
NU Library organized an interactive session examining how language and research platforms influence the information we find. Participants explored real-world comparisons of search engines, academic databases, citation systems, and AI-generated summaries, gaining insights into the strengths and limitations of each approach. The session offered practical techniques for creating effective multilingual search strategies, identifying gaps in literature reviews, and critically assessing information across Kazakh, Russian, and English sources.
3 Minute Thesis Competition Workshop
NU Doctoral Institute and NU Library hosted a workshop to help researchers communicate complex research in a clear, engaging, and impactful way. Participants explored practical techniques for simplifying research, strengthening presentations, and making their work memorable to a wider audience - whether preparing for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition or simply building confidence in research communication.
Professional Development Hour: Qualitative Analysis with NVivo: Beginner Level
NU Library Research Support staff took part in a beginner-level session on qualitative analysis with NVivo, organized as part of ongoing professional development and experience sharing. The session provided an opportunity for colleagues to develop practical skills and exchange knowledge on using NVivo for qualitative research.
On September 10, the Library ran an embedded session for EDML 602: Academic Literacies for Multilingual Education Professionals, the MA in Multilingual Education course taught by Bridget Goodman. The workshop was led by Venera Niyazbayeva, NU Library’s Teaching and Learning Librarian and herself an alumna of the same MA program.
Students worked with their own emerging thesis topics, from shadow education and EMI to translanguaging, trilingual education policy, AI in language learning and multilingual dormitory life. They practiced concept mapping, Boolean operators, truncation and wildcards, moved between NU Library Search, ProQuest, ERIC and other databases, applied TRAAP, SIFT and BEAM to evaluate sources, and tried the Library’s Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT), an AI-based research coach currently in development.
Students worked with their own emerging thesis topics, from shadow education and EMI to translanguaging, trilingual education policy, AI in language learning and multilingual dormitory life. They practiced concept mapping, Boolean operators, truncation and wildcards, moved between NU Library Search, ProQuest, ERIC and other databases, applied TRAAP, SIFT and BEAM to evaluate sources, and tried the Library’s Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT), an AI-based research coach currently in development.
Student Reflections from the Embedded Session for EDML 602: Academic Literacies for Multilingual Education Professionals
“A library database is not Google. It looks for terms, not for sentences.”
“Sometimes the problem is not the absence of sources but the way we formulate our search.”
“ILRT Bot is an excellent tool to use when asking questions related to my studies.”
Webinars by Publishers
On September 16, Oxford Academic held a webinar on the publisher's new AI-assisted discovery tools. The session introduced the AI Discovery Assistant, which lets researchers search Oxford's 500+ journals and 50,000+ books using natural-language questions instead of exact keyword matches, returning curated results with concise AI-generated summaries. It also covered the AI-powered search assistant built into the Oxford English Dictionary, designed specifically for humanities research: it answers plain-language questions about word origins, usage, and the historical development of English and guides users directly to relevant advanced-search results. The session was open to researchers across the humanities and beyond.
The OED portion connected naturally to this month's Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan: a tool built around tracing how individual words shift and acquire meaning over time is a fitting companion to a theme centered on how languages carry meaning differently.
Anyone who missed the live session can still explore the OED search tools on their own; Oxford's own Getting started guide walks through the interface step by step.
The OED portion connected naturally to this month's Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan: a tool built around tracing how individual words shift and acquire meaning over time is a fitting companion to a theme centered on how languages carry meaning differently.
Anyone who missed the live session can still explore the OED search tools on their own; Oxford's own Getting started guide walks through the interface step by step.
Behind the Peer Review Report: Best Practices for Reviewers and Insights for Authors
NU Library hosted a Wiley publisher webinar dedicated to understanding the peer review process and its role in scholarly publishing. The session provided practical guidance for researchers interested in becoming effective peer reviewers, covering best practices for evaluating manuscripts and delivering constructive, meaningful feedback.
Participants also gained valuable insights into the authors’ perspective, learning how peer review reports help strengthen research, enhance manuscript quality, and improve publication outcomes. The webinar highlighted the importance of thoughtful, ethical, and constructive peer review in maintaining the quality and integrity of academic literature.
Participants also gained valuable insights into the authors’ perspective, learning how peer review reports help strengthen research, enhance manuscript quality, and improve publication outcomes. The webinar highlighted the importance of thoughtful, ethical, and constructive peer review in maintaining the quality and integrity of academic literature.
Service Update & Policy Reminder
NU Library Use Policy and Patrons’ Behavior Rules
As the new semester begins, we would like to remind you to follow the rules outlined in the Library Use Policy to help maintain an atmosphere of respect and focused study.
Key Points to Remember:
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a respectful, safe, and productive study environment.
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 behaviour, 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.
Ask a Librarian
You are welcome to ask a quick question to a librarian.
The following times correspond to the on-duty hours of Teaching and Learning Support Office and Library Research Support Office:
TLSO: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
LRSO: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Walk up to get practical, hands-on help without booking an appointment.
In a few minutes, we can help you with:
· Finding resources (full-text articles, eBooks, journals, databases)
· Basic search (Primo, keywords, filters, Boolean operators)
· Research basics (citation tools, advanced search, how to find sources on a topic)
· Open Access publishing and APC funding
· Research data management fundamentals
· Basic guidance on publication strategies and avoiding predatory journals
· Copyright, author rights, and self-archiving options
Visit the library 2nd floor to speed up your learning and research!
The following times correspond to the on-duty hours of Teaching and Learning Support Office and Library Research Support Office:
TLSO: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
LRSO: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Walk up to get practical, hands-on help without booking an appointment.
In a few minutes, we can help you with:
· Finding resources (full-text articles, eBooks, journals, databases)
· Basic search (Primo, keywords, filters, Boolean operators)
· Research basics (citation tools, advanced search, how to find sources on a topic)
· Open Access publishing and APC funding
· Research data management fundamentals
· Basic guidance on publication strategies and avoiding predatory journals
· Copyright, author rights, and self-archiving options
Visit the library 2nd floor to speed up your learning and research!
Contributors of This Edition
- Dina BaiseitManager
Patron Services Office - Madina AbdykaimovaSenior Manager
Patron Services Office - Venera NiyazbayevaTeaching and Learning Librarian
- Zhuldyz OrazymbetovaHead
Patron Services Office
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https://www.amazon.ae/Frequency-Dictionary-Mandarin-Chinese-Vocabulary/dp/0415601061
https://www.routledge.com/Colloquial-Cantonese-The-Complete-Course-for-Beginners/Bourgerie-Tong-James/p/book/9781138958227
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934000191?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1684602.Language_Learning_Strategies
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13694581-points-de-d-part
https://www.amazon.ae/Frequency-Dictionary-Mandarin-Chinese-Vocabulary/dp/0415601061
https://www.routledge.com/Colloquial-Cantonese-The-Complete-Course-for-Beginners/Bourgerie-Tong-James/p/book/9781138958227
https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/integrated-korean-beginning-2-second-edition/
https://www.tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/arabic/arabic-stories-for-language-learners-paperback-with-disc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Turkish-Beginner-Intermediate-Course/dp/1444102397
https://www.abebooks.com/Dictionary-Turkic-Languages-English-Azerbaijani-Kazakh/31638112521/bd
© 2026 NU Library