Diversification of services at the central libraries of RF constituent territories in the circumstances of service economy

Abstract

The study goal is to specify the nomenclature of services types as presented at the library official websites. The authors characterize the library services as the subject of multi-aspect analysis and evaluation. They emphasize that the concept “library services” and “services by libraries” are not identical. The service economy affects diversification of services provided by the libraries. The authors complement the publications theoretical analysis with the findings of the largescale empirical study of services represented at the official websites of 77 central libraries of the RF constituent units (republican, regional territorial universal scientific libraries). The scale of diversification is demonstrated. The authors argue that the libraries have to undertake some unusual activities and to provide services foreign to their nature and social mission. The findings of the study demonstrate that services production in the libraries corresponds to 30 different types of professional activities. Many services provided by the libraries call for other than library, information, or bibliographic competences. Therefore, services quality assessment is needed; certification and licensing of the libraries providing them may be needed. The authors conclude that diversification as manifested in services inappropriate to the libraries is forced by the transfer to the market economy, development of service economy, and the focus on service-oriented government.