BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 18. bp today
announced the successful completion of a social investment project
to establish a modern, digitally managed library at Baku State
University (BSU), Trend reports.


The initiative reinforces bp’s long-standing commitment to
supporting education and capacity‑building in Azerbaijan.


The new digital library will significantly enhance the academic
experience at BSU by enabling students and faculty to remotely and
instantly access an extensive knowledge base. It will also
facilitate information access and data collection, and allow users
to share content, conduct complex searches, and store research
data.


BSU’s existing library contains approximately 2.5 million rare
books, manuscripts, and historical documents. The new system will
help improve the preservation and maintenance of these valuable
assets by introducing modern digital archiving and inventory
management practices.


The project consisted of three main components:








  • Development of dedicated software to ensure end‑to‑end
    management of the entire library collection through an electronic
    database.

  • Creation of an effective inventory management system, including
    the application of tracking chips on books and full integration of
    handheld terminals and chipped items into the software
    platform.

  • Installation of the physical infrastructure required for the
    effective operation of the new digital library system.


Addressing the library opening event at the university today,
Gio Cristofoli, bp’s regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Türkiye, said: “We are proud to support Baku State University in
its transition to a modern, digitally enabled library system.
Access to knowledge is fundamental to academic excellence, and this
project provides students, teachers and researchers with a powerful
new platform to learn, innovate, and collaborate. We believe this
initiative will not only benefit today’s students but will also
help safeguard the university’s invaluable knowledge collection for
generations to come. It also reflects bp’s contribution to
enhancing the quality of higher education and scientific research
in Azerbaijan.”


The total project cost is 805,290 AZN (approximately $473,700),
covering software development, establishment of the inventory
system, and installation of all necessary hardware and
infrastructure.


During the event, bp and Baku State University also signed a
cooperation agreement that sets out a framework for potential joint
projects. The aim is to help further enhance the university
ecosystem and support the advancement of knowledge, fostering
long-term academic development and innovation.