Forecasting convergent evolution of the library studies

Abstract

The authors explore convergence of sciences as a way for building holistic view of the world in the era of revolutionary transformations. The convergence suggests interdependence of all scientific disciplines, system integrity of theory and practice efficiency and productivity. The authors review the issues of disciplines convergence and interaction within the historical context of dichotomic “innovations-traditions” and “integration-differentiation” processes. The prerequisites for convergent approach in the past and current library theory, and the specific character of converging and interacting disciplines in the humanities, are revealed. The idea that the aim of sciences convergence is to achieve global evolutionism is examined from the synergetic viewpoint; the authors emphasize that the majority of research goals are oriented toward convergent evolution. They propose an algorithm to study library science convergence and substantive tools; the structure of convergence and interaction of library science and the humanities, non-humanities and technologies is also developed. Special features of this interaction and different convergence levels are discussed. The authors argue that theoretical conceptualization of the technology-humanistic balance of convergent evolution in the library studies would enable to avoid culture’s dependence on technologies when the increasing technological potential exceeds the cultural one. The authors fulfilled the pilot analysis of the relevant theoretical problems of library science for the recent 5 years. They suggest that the library science would possibly contribute to the global cultural convergence projects.