Library and Information Services on the Websites of National Libraries of Russia: Classification and Presentation Issues

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse services on the websites of national libraries of Russia. The author presents definition of the concept “library (library and information) service” and highlights the essence of these services. The article analyses how the services are presented on the official websites of national libraries: the Russian State Library (RSL), the National Library of Russia (NLR) and the Presidential Library named after B. Yeltsin (PL). The author uses the following methods: analysis of texts of library sites, comparison, generalization, classification analysis. RSL names the services on the main page of the website and provides the list of fee-based services. NLR also demonstrates services twice, but more complete list presents on the main page of the site. PL does not provide the full list of services on the website, but lists some services in the section “Access to Resources” (also, the site presents “The Price List of fee-based services (works)”. Electronic services of national libraries of Russia are allocated.The author characterizes classification of services on the website of each national library. Analysis of these services shows that they are not presented comprehensively (most fully in the RSL), and the services are called and classified by libraries in different ways. Users accessing different national libraries are not always able to understand exactly what services are described there.The article proposes classification of library and information services developed by the author. The classification is based on two attributes: the object that is requested by the user (document, reference, etc.), and the place of service. This classification can be used by both national and other libraries.