Book exhibitions in commemoration of world-famous scientists in the USSR Academy of Sciences: 1943–1944

Abstract

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the World War II, the authors turned to the previously unexplored subject of organizing book exhibitions to the anniversaries and memorable dates of outstanding scientists in the war period. The article is based on the documents found in Moscow and St. Petersburg Archives of the Academy of Sciences considering the aspects of exhibition activity conducted by the librarians of the USSR Academy of Sciences institutions and, particularly, by the Sector of Special Libraries, in the period of the Great Patriotic War. This, practically not considered previously, aspect of the academic libraries work during in the war period was, determines the novelty and relevance of the study. The authors used the general scientific methodology, applying source study, archaeographic and analytical-synthetic methods of work with documents. Even in the ordeals of the severe war years, in spite of inaccessibility of the majority of academic libraries’ collections for searching the editions needed, the librarians did their best to organize book exhibitions in commemoration of the outstanding foreign and Russian scientists, such as I. Newton, N. I. Lobachevsky and others. Science sessions devoted to the occasion where men of science reported about the worldwide known scientist, always preceded the ceremony of the exhibition opening. Organizing book exhibitions was an extremely difficult task due to the evacuation of the most precious books of academic libraries from Moscow, poor communication between academic libraries and the blockade of Leningrad where the oldest academic library situated. All the exhibitions were prepared on the initiative of the Soviet Academy of Sciences top management and under its auspices. Their purpose was to raise the prestige of science in the Soviet Union. All the people (the representatives of the USSR war allies among them) who attended those exhibitions demonstrated great interest and highly appreciated the librarians’ efforts and praised them for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to their work.