Specific aspects of the Russian federal and scientific libraries' support of the libraries in the RF new entities

Abstract

The author focuses on the book charity drives to support the libraries in Donetsk and Lugansk republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, and examines the contribution of state and non-government organizations. The experience of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) in restoration of the libraries in cleared areas and the possibilities to use this experience today, is explored. The need for coordination center for developing collections in the new territories is substantiated. The challenges of these libraries’ entering the RF digital space are discussed. The author analyzes the role of federal libraries in professional retraining of the librarians in the new regions, and the content of the programs offered by leading library and information centers for the librarians in Donetsk and Lugansk republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. The author argues that the substantive side of the libraries in the new RF areas has to be reformatted in recognition of the hostile Ukrainian policy that the above libraries had to communicate for several decades.