“Rumyantsev Readings — 2024”: N.P. Rumyantsev’s Heritage and Topical Issues of Development of Modern Librarianship

Abstract

On 23—25 April 2024, the Russian State Library (RSL) hosted the annual International Research and Practical Conference “Rumyantsev Readings” (organizers: Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, RSL, the Library Assembly of Eurasia). The topics raised at the conference invariably attract a large number of specialists from different regions of Russia and other countries with their versatility and relevance. In 2024, representatives of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in it. Our country was represented by specialists from many cities and regions. 294 people took part in the event in person, 1,697 connections were recorded during the broadcasting of the sessions.The conference topics covered a wide range of issues on the theory and practice of library science, bibliography and book studies. Among its main directions: history of libraries and other scientific and cultural institutions, as well as pages of life and activity of people connected with them; disclosure of book depositories’ funds; research of collections and individual copies of manuscript and printed monuments; multifaceted activities of modern libraries. One of the main goals of the conference is to expand intercultural interaction and co-operation between cultural, educational and scientific institutions. Within the framework of the “Rumyantsev Readings” the work of sections, both traditional for many years, and timed to the dates and events of 2024, was organized. Special attention was paid to the personality and heritage of the creator of the Rumyantsev Museum N.P. Rumyantsev (1754—1826), whose 270th anniversary is being celebrated in 2024. Other key topics of the conference were: “Scientific and methodological activities of libraries”, “Collectors, curators, researchers: the history of cultural institutions in the faces”, “The selfless people of the past and modern volunteer movement in the life of libraries”, “Book monuments in the library collections: creation, existence, storage and use”, “Library collections in the digital environment”, “Staffing makes the difference: young researchers in the modern library”.The programme of the event included, in addition to the plenary session, ten sections and two round tables. By the beginning of the conference a collection of materials in three parts was prepared and published by the publishing house of the RSL “Pashkov Dom”, it included 168 articles by 180 authors.“Rumyantsev Readings” have been held for more than four decades and continue to be a popular research and practical event among library professionals and representatives of other educational, scientific and cultural institutions, contributing to the development of scientific research and the introduction of new practices.