In the Year of Science — About Library Science

Abstract

The article is devoted to the first in the domestic history International research and practical conference “Library Science in the 21st century: content, organization, digitalization and scientometrics”, organized by the Russian State Library, the National Library of Russia and the Russian Library Association. The conference was held on October 19—20, 2021 in Moscow — in the Year of Science and Technology and in the first year of implementation of the Strategy for development of librarianship in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, where one of the main priorities is scientific and methodological support of libraries. The aim of the conference is to update the topics and identify the factors that stimulate the study of the library sphere, discussion of issues of organization and evaluation of performance of library science, the exchange of experience in organizing scientific activities. The event was held in face-to-face and remote format; more than 180 directors and experts of federal, central regional and university libraries, cultural institutes, as well as other institutions of science, education and culture attended it from 14 regions of the Russian Federation and from foreign countries. During the online broadcast of the meetings, there were recorded over one and a half thousand connections. The program included more than 50 reports, focused on theoretical problems of science studies and practical issues of organization of scientific activity. Summing up, the conference participants noted the importance of library science and proposed a set of specific measures, the implementation of which should help strengthen the regulatory framework for scientific activities in libraries, increase personnel staff; stimulate scientific creativity and research initiative; promote the spread of new scientific knowledge. The conference has important scientific and practical value. It demonstrated the current state of library science, allowed to identify and comprehensively discuss the most acute problems of its development and to outline steps to eliminate them. The conference materials contain a rich empirical base for further study of library science itself.