Cooperation of the faculty of history and philosophy with the scientific library of Odessa Mechnikov university for preparation of students-historians: directions and prospects

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the trends, forms, methods, and opportunities for cooperation between the Faculty of History and Philosophy and the Scientific Library of the Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University in the preparation of historians-professionals. The article suggests methods and scenarios for involving students in systematic work in the library, as well as involving them in joint work on scientific projects together with their professors and librarians. Examples of existing cooperation are given and directions of its improvement in the future are outlined. Professors of the Faculty of History and Philosophy could support efforts of the staff of the library in the struggle for the student’s interest for professional books by offering a number of scenarios. One of them can be a planned or optional lecture on the image of a reader in art, since the creation of historical images has different methods dictated by the goal setting by a teacher and teaching tasks. For better understanding and assimilating the material during such lecture, visualization is useful. There are many options in that kind of a lecture that correspond to the scientific interests of departments. For the Department of the new and newest history, in the author’s view, an analysis of the painting of modern Europe is the most relevant. In works of artists of this period, two main images of readers are very clearly visible: the image of a scientist-enlightener and the image of a dreamer, keen on reading a new book. Both images are attractive and can arouse young people’s interest in reading. On the whole the author of the article suggests four main positions to deepen cooperation between the Faculty and the Library: 1) continuing of the development of those areas of joint work that have already become traditional; 2) developing of new forms of joint activities that meet the interests of young people; 3) students involving in the preparation and design of book exhibitions; 4) reviving of joint scientific projects with the participation of students and graduate students. The author believes that in this case the current situation, characterized by students’ infantile attitude towards the work of the library, would have been changed for the better.