Introduction of Information and Communication Technologies in the Library Local History Studies

Abstract

Introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Library Regional Studies is an important task in building an open information society. The aim of this work is to determine the main development trends in the library local history studies using the ICT. Based on the analysis of materials of conferences organized by the Russian Library Association in the period 2009—2016, this work highlights the large group of scientific publications describing the process of introduction of ICT into the mainstream of local history library activities: formation of the collections of local history documents, creation and utilization of local history reference and search tools, reference-bibliographic and information services, formation of system of local history bibliographic products, distribution of local history knowledge, as well as methodical and research activities. There are revealed the main results of computerizing by libraries the processes of creating the local history information products and providing the local history user services: digitization of local history documents, creation of full-text resources of local history; providing the remote access to local history reference and search tools, development of corporate cataloguing; the growth in demand for virtual services and electronic delivery of documents; use of Web 2.0 technologies to promote local history knowledge; comprehensive representation of the unique local history information on the website or portal; creation of multimedia products, etc. Theoretical and methodical problems of implementing ICT in library local studies are identified.