Book donation to the Library of University of Kyrenia
Date Added: 09 February 2016, 15:42
Last Updated Date:21 December 2016, 10:21

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Olgun Beyoğlu donated 550 books to the Library of University of Kyrenia

Today, the University of Kyrenia has experienced a significant day. Olgun Beyoğlu, who served for public utilities for years, submitted 550 books as donation to Prof. Dr. Ilkay Salihoğlu, the acting Rector of University of Kyrenia.

Prof. Dr. Ilkay Salihoğlu: “Such contributions from the society keep the educational institutions on their feet and take them much further”

Upon accepting the donated books, Professor Salihoğlu expressed his feelings and views: “Mr. Olgun is one of the precious figures that our country brought up. He is a person that returned to his country after completing his education abroad and provided the best services at top level of bureaucracy. For me, to provide fair services in bureaucracy is one of the most outstanding services that one can do for a country. Considering public benefit, Mr. Olgun demonstrated an exemplary behavior and donated books in order to offer them in use of wider masses. He first donated approximately 1300 books to our sister university in Nicosia, Near East University, without expecting anything in return. Such contributions from society keep the educational institutions on their feet, take them further and promote sharing.

All kinds of donation to educational institutions are a sharing that directly provides contribution to the development of a society. Therefore, I greatly appreciate this exemplary behavior and extend my gratitude to him on behalf of my university” said he.

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Beyoğlu: “Unfortunately, my generation was brought up with a deferred education and training”

Touching upon the guiding role of education for individuals in achieving a reputable statue in their social, economical and professional lives, Mr. Beyoğlu underlined that books were an absolute must for this. “Due to Cyprus conflict on those years, I had been a mujahid from 1963 to1967. Then, I had the opportunity to go abroad for higher education. I received my undergraduate education in Turkey with the scholarship granted by the National Ministry of Turkey. As I was fond of reading, I used to save 10 Turkish Liras from my scholarship every month in order to buy some books. I kept buying and reading in my business life. As time passed, I owned a large collection of books and I hardly found space to place my books in my room. One day, while I was talking with Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel, I asked: “I have a large collection of books. Would you put them for public use in your library, if I donate the books?” He smiled and replied: “How I can say no while the books that you want to donate are more valuable than money for me, we can purchase only the books that available on market”. Then, I donated about 1300 books to Near East University on that year. Cyprus Geography book that published in 1948, a Bulgarian published book that comprises two dramas of Nazım Hikmet and many other books, which aren’t currently available on market, were among the books that I donated.

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I have become acquainted with books from my childhood. People generally buy books in order to read and broaden their knowledge. However, some people buy books as a hobby or use them as accessories on the shelves at their homes. Reading is the only means of becoming an individual with universal values and a capacity to defend those values. Unfortunately, my generation was brought up with a deferred education and training” said he.

Beyoğlu: “Reading is a contagious case”.

Reading is a contagious case that spreads and affects the others. As books are constantly read at home, reading habit of my wife and my son is extremely high. Likewise, they purchase books too. Today, I am here for this reason. I hope it will lead to good results. I got a big load off me. I also feel the joy of donating books for public benefit”.