Legal-regulatory frameworks to establish libraries activity of the War Office

Abstract

The article considers legal-regulatory frameworks for military libraries different types. Their creation was carried out by the War Office formed in 1802; this fact gave grounds to attribute its book collections to the departmental libraries category. The military administration activity to establish and improve legal frameworks for these libraries is presented. Fundamental documents contributed to military librarianship history are represented and analyzed. The analysis of legal documents for military libraries arrangement permits to conclude: in the first half of the XIX century a reason of their misery was the lack of legislative frameworks, in the second half of the XX century the military department developed legal frameworks that covered all aspects of the various type libraries life and activities. The introduction of the military district management system led to creation of libraries in headquarters and offices of military districts, garrison officers' meetings with libraries; improved the organizational-financial position of military units and institutions libraries. Reorganizing the Military Ministry control organs took place along with the reform of the local military offices. Main documents regulated their activities were the following: Regulation «On the officers’ libraries establishment in the Corps of Engineers» 1838, «Regulations on officers’ libraries in the Corps of Military Engineers» 1863 and 1889, «The Charter of military meetings» 1874, «Regulations on officers' meetings in certain regiments» 1884, «The instruction on the libraries content of military-educational institutions subordinated to their Chief Governance» 1882, «The charter of internal service», orders of the military authorities, circulars of the General Staff, positions on the military training schools, orders and circulars of the War Department Chief Governances, military district commanders, orders and directions of military units and commanders, private rules, statutes, regulations, instructions of military libraries. Adopted legal instruments united military libraries of various types into a united system of military librarianship.