Discovering Nicholas A. Rubakin anew

Abstract

Review of the book by Yu. N. Stolyarov. Vozvrashchenniy Rubakin [Rubakin regained; in Russian] / Yu. N. Stolyarov ; Russian School Library Association; Library Studies Department of the International Informatization Academy ; Russian State Library ; Research Center for Book Culture Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences ; National Library of Sakha Republic (Yakutia). —Moscow:RussianSchoolLibrary Association, 2019. — 415 p. : ill. In his new monograph, Yury N. Stolyarov discusses many aspects of Nicholas A. Rubakin’s life and work. N. A. Rubakin is an outstanding bibliographer and classic of the book science, father of bibliopsychology, one of the founders of library science, theorist and expert of self-education, popular exponent of science; new facts in Rubakin’s biography are discussed. The author presents previously unknown works by Rubakin and evaluates their significance for the book science; he also examines the possibility of applying Rubakin’s recommendations and practical conclusions in modern libraries for managing user self-education. That’s why Yu. Stolyarov’s monograph is seen as a new discovery of Rubakin’s heritage. The reviewer focuses on bibliopsychology, its provisions and significance for library and information studies. The historical context is reconstructed; Rbakin’s entourage and personages mentioned in the biography, from well-known political figures to front-line reporters are characterized. Rubakin’s reaction to V. Lenin’s review of the bibliography “Among the books” is of special significance for the history and theory of bibliographical science. The bibliological portraits of authors and readers developed by N. A. Rubakin are of special interest.