“Library Environment and Space” is New Academic Discipline at the East-Siberian State Institute of Culture

Abstract

The article is devoted to the theoretical justification of the training course “Library environment and space” and the experience of teaching it at the Department of library and information resources of the East Siberian State Institute of Culture (VSGIK). Interaction of library, environment and space is studied using environmental, contextual and spatial approaches. In order to clarify the system of terminology, the authors analyse publications of well-known specialists in library science considering the features of library environment and space. The authors determine the contexts of library and information activities in the library, being socio-cultural institution: physical, historical, communicative, social, ethical, etc. Contextual approach is considered from the perspective of structure of library and information activities. The article indicates the ways of organizing space and environment under the provisions of the “Model standard of public libraries”, as well as the “Concept of modernization of municipal libraries of the Russian Federation on the basis of model standard of public libraries” and “Guidelines for modernization of municipal libraries based on the model standard of public libraries”.The authors generalize the experience of the East Siberian State Institute of Culture in studying library space in the framework of scientific conferences held and educational programs implemented. The article characterizes the authorial discipline “Library environment and space” approbated at the VSGIK in 2016. The authors prove feasibility of its introduction into the Master’s curriculum, reveal goals and objectives of the course, its interconnection with other disciplines, give the fragments of the educational program. The article describes the method of applying the innovative methods of mental maps, puzzle technologies, which help through visualization of objects of study to develop associative perception, imagination, teamwork, collaboration and co-creation, which are important for organizing library environment and space in the public library. Special attention is paid to the specific features of the final lesson, the main form of which is the discussion on the topic “Model library: pros and cons”.The authors consider it justified to introduce the discipline “Library environment and space” into the Master’s educational course of study to form the competence PC-3 “Ability to create and maintain an open, psychologically comfortable library environment”.