The historian of military libraries! (On A. M. Panchenko’s 65-th anniversary)

Abstract

The article is timed to coincide with the anniversary of Reserve Colonel Anatoly Mikhailovich Panchenko, a prominent researcher of the history of military libraries, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Chief Researcher of the Book Science Laboratory of the State Public Scientific and Technical Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GPNTB SB RAS). The biography of the hero of the day is briefly reviewed, including the years of his military service, pedagogical and scientific activities in a military educational institution and work in the scientific institution. The author outlines and characterizes the range of Panchenko’s scientific interests reflected in more than 200 of his scientific publications: the history of military library science, scientific book publishing in the post-Soviet period, history of book culture, work with egodocuments, and cultural traditions of Russian officers. The key scientific works in the history of military libraries of the Russian army are characterized. Panchenko’s contribution to the personalization of the history of military librarianship is emphasized. The author focuses in particular on the interest Panchenko takes in the history of the library of the Military Headquarters and General Staff, its structure and development in the pre-revolutionary period, which is evidenced by the bulk of publications: several of these papers coincide with the Library’s various anniversaries. For many years, A. M. Panchenko has cooperated with the Military Historical Library of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The journals that publish his works are named. The personal qualities that enable M. Panchenko to succeed in science are emphasized. The works by A. M. Panchenko have received high appraise among Russian historians of librarianship and librarians.