A.L. Shanyavsky University at the Dawn of Library Education in Russia

Abstract

The article considers the activity efforts of L.B. Khavkina aimed to organize the first library courses in Russia, operated at A.L. Shanyavsky Moscow City People’s University. L.B. Khavkina first raised the question on organization of short-term library courses at the third All-Russia Congress of Technical and Vocational Educators in 1904; however, the project had not been implemented. In 1911, the Congress on Library Science and Services adopted the resolution that emphasized the need to train students in library science. After several unsuccessful attempts to organize courses for librarians, L.B. Khavkina appealed to A.L. Shanyavsky University Council, having secured financial support from philanthropist N.A. Shakhov. As a result, the Courses started in 1913 and operated until 1920, the last year of existence of A.L. Shanyavsky University. L.B. Khavkina developed all curricula and programs of the Library Courses, basing on rich experience of Russian and international library studies. The courses maintained an extensive correspondence with foreign libraries and received their donations of books, journals and teaching aids. Under the auspices of the Courses, the teachers and students operated the library museum that presented the advanced experience and best practices, both Russian and international, in library studies and services. The article describes the features of the teaching and learning process, facilities and student composition of the first library courses in Russia. The author describes the changes in the student body, the content of programs and equipment of courses with arrival of the Soviet power.