WASHINGTON, D.C. - In April 2012 the Library of Congress will host an exhibition on the 500th anniversary of the first printed Armenian book ("Urbatagirk" - "Friday Book" published by Hakob Meghapart in Venice, Italy). The exhibition will also mark UNESCO’s declaration of Yerevan World Book Capital of 2012, reports Asbarez.

The exhibition at the Library of Congress will offer 50 items from the Library’s Armenian language collections held by the Near East Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division and in other custodial divisions. In addition, given the extreme rarity of the Armenian incunabula, i.e. books published between 1511/1512 and 1695’s, three additional items will be borrowed from public and private collections for the expansion of the exhibition.

The exhibition will be held in the Northwest Gallery of the Great Hall of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building.